Miss Pierre pursues Shady Well score
TORONTO, November 20, 2024 – P413 Racing’s Miss Pierre chases her first stakes success in Saturday’s $150,000 Shady Well at Woodbine.
Set for six furlongs over the main track, the Shady Well, for Ontario bred or Ontario sired 2-year-old fillies, highlights the 10-race card.
A daughter of Souper Speedy out of the Rahy mare Prado Girl, Miss Pierre arrives at her first stakes engagement off a debut victory.
Sent on her way at 9-1, the bay filly found herself in tight early in the 5 ½-furlong main track race and settled toward the rear in the 11-horse field.
Shifted eight-wide turning for home by jockey Eswan Flores, Miss Pierre took the lead outside the sixteenth pole and went on to a three-quarter length score in 1:06.14.
“I think what impressed me the most was that she broke slowly, but she didn’t quit,” said trainer Ted Holder. “I expected her to win, to be honest. She just continued on and didn’t get frustrated.”
Holder believes his young charge, a $15,000 (CDN) purchase at the 2023 CTHS Ontario Premier Yearling Sale, benefitted greatly from that initial start.
“It’s a bit of an education when things don’t go smoothly in the first race. I think that was something that will help her going forward.”
Miss Pierre worked five furlongs in 1:01.60 over the main track on Nov. 13.
“She is doing great,” said Holder, who is her regular galloper. “I was happy with it. She knew where the five sixteenths pole was, and she knew when to accelerate. I have liked her from the time I started breezing her. Every time she is out there, she does things very professionally.”
The youngster, bred by Paul Buttigieg, is not short on personality.
“This filly is very feisty. She is not what you would call a laid-back filly. She will let you know how she is feeling. She has a couple quirks, so it has been important to be patient with her. You have to do right by them, or they will go backwards on you.”
Meverton Donaldson is the groom.
Last year, first-time starter Shamans Girl ($49.30) rallied to notch a 3 ½-length win in a time of 1:11.63. Pink Velvet won the inaugural running in 1956.
First post is 1:10 p.m. Fans can wager on all the action with HPIbet.com and bet365.
Shady Well Stakes (Race 8)
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Dancetotherhythm – Da-Sean Gaskin – Steve Attard
2 – Pop Idol – Sahin Civaci – Katerina Vassilieva
3 – Winterberry – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse
4 – Patriotic War – Ryan Munger – Mark Casse
5 – Periwinkle – Rafael Hernandez – Kevin Attard
6 – Nata Trouble – David Moran – William Armata
7 – Miss Pierre – Eswan Flores – Ted Holder
8 – Princess of Storm – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse
9 – War Signal – Ryan Munger – Mark Casse
Chris Lomon, Woodbine
