Pageant Queen chases My Dear Stakes crown / Victoria Stakes: Casson, Jupiter, Rude Procedure a formidable trio for Casse

July 9, 2025

Pageant Queen chases My Dear Stakes crown

TORONTO, July 9, 2025 – Windways Farm and Upland Flats Racing filly Pageant Queen takes on eight rivals in Saturday’s $125,000 My Dear Stakes at Woodbine.

Bred in Ontario by Anthony B. Russo and Leslie L. Russo, Pageant Queen heads into the 5 ½-furlong main track event for 2-year-old fillies off an impressive 2 ½-length score over the same ground and distance in her career bow on June 21 at Woodbine.

The chestnut, at 19-1, dueled three-deep at the outset before taking the lead ahead of the half. Passed briefly at the quarter pole, the James Begg trainee rebid in the two-path in early stretch and then pulled away for the milestone victory in 1:05.37.

“We were very happy with the effort,” said Begg. “We believed she would be a nice filly. She had been working in company with another 2-year-old filly of ours, Sipping History, who has just missed out on winning twice so far. We knew that Pageant Queen had it in her.”

Despite the long odds, Begg expected the daughter of Point of Entry out of the Sun King mare Queen Ofthe Dawn to run well in her debut.

“That race was chock-full of horses with nice pedigrees, but I was still pretty surprised at the odds. I thought anywhere from 5-1 to 8-1 would be what I expected. I don’t have any concern with the odds – as long as we are running horses where they belong is the primary concern.

“She is pretty game horse, but she can be a little lazy in her training. We knew that going in. Her recovery from her works was always very fast, leading to the idea that she isn’t really showing us everything she has. I was a little surprised at the early speed she showed in her debut. I told Raffi [jockey, Rafael Hernandez] before the race that she has a tendency to be a little lazy, so don’t be afraid to get aggressive with her early.

“When she broke sharply, I thought she’s either going to keep going or she might tire herself out. When she was still going in front and doing it well, I thought, ‘Okay, this is over.’”

Pageant Queen worked four furlongs in :47.80 over the Woodbine turf training track on July 4 in preparation for her first stakes test.

“Being a Point of Entry, moving forward, we decided to work on the grass,” said Begg, who is off to a strong start in 2025 after posting a career-best 14 wins last year. “It was a nice, easy breeze. I think she should have a solid shot in the My Dear.”

Begg, who won his first stakes race with Greavette in the 2023 edition of the Finest City at Presque Isle Downs, is looking to bring more Ontario-sired horses into the fold.

“I had been buying a lot of U.S. horses, but with Woodbine’s Ontario stakes program, we are looking to fill out roster with Ontario-sired horses. One of the people who bought into Pageant Queen is Upland Flats Racing (nom du course of Patrick Lewis), one of my big U.S. clients, based out of Nashville.

“Patrick’s racing manager is Joe Miller, who is associated with (owner) Tracy Farmer. Joe was also manager for an owner who had horses trained by Roger Attfield – so, he is very familiar with Woodbine. He kind of pushed us to purchase a few yearlings out of the Woodbine sale. He’s been extremely pleased with the program.

“So, those guys are pretty jazzed to double or triple down on the Woodbine this sale this year (the CTHS Ontario Canadian Premier Yearling Sale is slated for August 27 at the Woodbine Sales Pavilion in Toronto) and add some more Ontario horses into the mix.”

Chris Sealy is the groom.

Air Sure won the inaugural edition of the My Dear in 1941. Owned by Conn Smythe, the bay went 11-6-10 from 75 career starts.

First post is 1:05 p.m. The wagering menu for the My Dear includes Rolling Double, Exacta, 0.20 Trifecta, 0.20 Superfecta, .20 Pick 3 (Races 8-9-10), .20 Pick 4 (Races 8-9-10-11) and $1 Swinger.

Fans can watch and wager on all the action through HPIbet.com and bet365.com. 

Field for the $125,000 My Dear Stakes – Race 8

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Souper Diva – Sofia Vives – Steven Chircop

2 – Thank You Amy – Huber Villa-Gomez – Ron Potts

3 – Pageant Queen – Fraser Aebly – James Bentley Begg

4 – Border Czar – Rafael Hernandez – Barb Minshall

5 – Pina Colada (S) – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

6 – Abdul (S) – Sahin Civaci – Mark Casse

7 – Souper Sporty – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Mike De Paulo (cross-entered in Victoria)

8 – Armored Guard – Ryan Munger – Barb Minshall

9 – Sapphire Beach (IRE) – Pietro Moran – Michael Doyle

Chris Lomon, Woodbine

Victoria Stakes: Casson, Jupiter, Rude Procedure a formidable trio for Casse

TORONTO, July 9, 2025 – Six 2-year-olds, including Mark Casse trainees Casson, Jupiter, and Rude Procedure, will travel 5 ½ furlongs over the Woodbine main track in Saturday’s co-featured $125,000 Victoria Stakes.

Casse, no stranger to success in the Victoria – the dual hall of fame conditioner has won six editions of the race – will have three chances to add that total in this year’s running.

Casson, a son of Caravaggio out of the Lemon Drop Kid mare Zee Ro Drop, turned heads after a flashy debut win on May 11 at Woodbine.

The roan colt, sent on his way as the 3-5 choice, was in charge every step of the way in the 4 ½-furlong main track maiden special weight sprint, crossing the wire four lengths ahead of his closest rival in :52.69.

“It was a very nice win,” said assistant trainer Kathryn Sullivan. “He got into stride very quickly and easily. He wasn’t pressed, so he was able to have things his own way on the front. I’m not sure you ever truly expect that type of effort, but in saying that, we knew he was training well and thought quite highly of him. He ran a very mature race.”

Owned by Manfred and Penny Conrad, Casson posted a series of four-furlong works on the Woodbine main track after his career bow, including a :48.00 breeze on July 3.

“Out of the three we have running, Casson has had the longest time in between races,” noted Sullivan. “We’re very happy with his works. He’s shown a lot of professionalism in the morning, which is something you love to see in young horses. He’s a very straightforward horse and the hope is that he can build from that debut and continue to progress.”

Bred by Ballycroy Training Centre & Villa Rosa Farms, Casson was purchased for $200,000 at the 2024 Keeneland Association September Yearling Sale.

Gareth Daniels is the groom.

Jupiter, owned by D.J. Stable LLC, had a bright career bow on June 22 at Woodbine.

The son of Upstart out of the Karakontie (JPN) mare Magnanimous, sent off at 6-5, held a head advantage at the stretch call in the 5 ½-furlong main track maiden special weight race and then opened up under mild urging to secure a three-length score in 1:04.52.

“It was very impressive to see how he pulled away late,” said Sullivan. “He looked comfortable at every call and when it was time to dig in, he did and went on to a very nice win.”

Bred in Kentucky by David Schwartz, the dark bay colt breezed three furlongs in :36.60 over the Toronto oval’s main track on July 5.

“He’s coming back on a shorter timeline than Casson and Rude Procedure, but he came out of his last race in great shape,” said Sullivan. “He’s all business in the mornings. You can see that he loves to get out there and he does it very willingly.”

Errol Miller is the groom.

Rude Procedure, a son of Authentic out of the Discreetly Mine mare Madison Kat, was also an impressive debut winner.

Bet down to 8-5, the chestnut was left unfettered on the lead and went on to notch a 3 ½-length victory in the five-furlong main track maiden special weight race on June 8. The final time was :58.05.

“It’s somewhat funny that all three of these horses won in somewhat similar fashion,” said Sullivan. “All three of them in the stretch, none of them were under a drive – they all kind of did it on their own. It’s quite nice when they do get in front like that as babies and they continue on. Sometimes, at that age, they can stall when there aren’t any other horses challenging them. I thought they were all very impressive in the way they kept on going down the lane.”

A homebred for Linda B. Roach, Robert Fetkin & Small Batch Thoroughbreds, Rude Procedure posted a pair of four-furlong breezes over the Woodbine main track on June 27 (:47.60) and July 3 (:47.20) ahead of the Victoria.

“Again, it’s the same type of thing we see from Casson and Jupiter,” said Sullivan. “When you take a young horse out in the morning, you aren’t always sure what to expect, but these three are very focused from the moment they step outside of the barn. That carries right into their works, too.”

The similarities between stablemates don’t end there.

“All three of them are great in the paddock, great in post parade, and very mature,” praised Sullivan. “It will be interesting to see them all together in the same race.”

Gareth Daniels is the groom.

Spring won the inaugural running of the Victoria in 1903. Mensa, trained by Mark Casse, took top prize in last year’s edition.

First post is 1:05 p.m. The wagering menu for the Victoria includes Rolling Double, Exacta, 0.20 Trifecta, 0.20 Superfecta, 0.20 Pick 3 (Races 3-4-5) and $1 Swinger.

Fans can watch and wager on all the action through HPIbet.com and bet365.com. 

Field for the $125,000 Victoria Stakes – Race 3

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Valley of Kings – Pietro Moran – Josie Carroll

2 – Rude Procedure – Sahin Civaci – Mark Casse

3 – Jupiter – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

4 – Fistfulofmoney (S) – Huber Villa-Gomez – Kevin Rice

5 – Souper Sporty (S) – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Mike De Paulo (cross-entered in My Dear)

6 – Casson – Rafael Hernandez – Mark Casse

Chris Lomon, Woodbine