Simcoe storms into Grade 3 Vigil in top form / Attard trio primed for Grade 3 Ontario Matron test
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TORONTO, September 11, 2025 – Simcoe, trained by Katerina Vassilieva, heads into Saturday’s $150,000 Branded Cities Vigil Stakes (G3) at Woodbine in stakes-winning form.
Simcoe, who stormed to the lead early and then powered away down the lane for an authoritative 5 ¾-length score in the $150,000 Bold Venture (G3), at 6 ½ furlongs, on August 16, will face eight rivals in the Vigil, a seven-furlong main track engagement for 3-year-olds and up.
“I was a little bit surprised at how easily he drew away from the rest of the field,” said Vassilieva, of the Bold Venture victory, which marked Simcoe’s first added-money win. “One thing that Rafi (jockey, Rafael Hernandez) and I spoke about this time was making it our intention to get the lead because we noticed in his last start before the Bold Venture when he did make it to the lead, he didn’t stop – he fought with the horse who was challenging him, but he didn’t give it up. This time, he made it look so easy.”
The final time was a sharp 1:15.42.
“In a couple of his races before that, at Turfway Park, it was the same thing. When he got to the lead and was challenged, he didn’t back down. Whenever we would decide that wherever he breaks out of the gate, just let him stay there, the result wasn’t always what we hoped. He tends to run evenly when he’s stalking. For the Bold Venture, we decided to go for it, and it worked out well.”
A homebred (Ontario) for Chiefswood Stables Limited, the 5-year-old gelding, now 6-4-0 ($328,323) from 18 starts, has a record of 4-4-0 over his past eight engagements.
“He has this big, beautiful stride,” lauded Vassilieva. “It might have taken his trainer longer than it should have to figure out what he wanted to do. He won at two turns earlier in his career as a 3-year-old. He’s a very big horse and we felt that he wanted a route distance. It’s when we shortened him up to seven-eighths and shorter that he really flourished at those distances.”
The son of Uncle Mo out of the Pulpit mare Aurora Lights came into the season looking and feeling like he was at the top of the game.
Vassilieva, a multiple graded stakes winner, took notice of it right away.
“He came back to Woodbine this season a much more confident horse because he had such a successful time at Turfway Park in the winter. He’s been so consistent ever since. He knows he’s been doing well and he knows he’s the man. He carries himself with a lot of confidence and poise.
“He came out of his last race in very good order and he’s looking like he’s sitting on another big effort.”
Simcoe breezed four furlongs in :49.00 over the Woodbine main track on September 6 in preparation for the Vigil.
“He is a true athlete. He’s very focused and professional when it comes to training and racing. He has a good mind, and a lot of heart.”
Jamar Goddard is the groom.
Trainer Barb Minshall won three straight editions of the Vigil, two with Kiridashi (1996-97) and the other with Sea Wall (1995). Pink Lloyd won four straight runnings, from 2017-20.
First post time is 1:05 p.m. Fans can wager on all the action via HPIbet.com and bet365.com.
The wagering menu for the Vigil includes Rolling Double, Exacta, 0.20 Trifecta, 0.20 Superfecta, 0.20 Pick 3, (Races 10-11-12), $1 Swinger.
Field for Grade 3 $150,000 Vigil Stakes – Race 10
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Hunt Master – Eswan Flores – Martin Hinckson (cross-entered in the Woodbine Mile)
2 – Simcoe – Rafael Hernandez – Katerina Vassilieva
3 – Twin City – Keveh Nicholls – Stuart Simon
4 – Cruden Bay – Fraser Aebly – Don MacRae
5 – Wicked Django – Slade Jones – Rodney Barrow
6 – Victory Achieved – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse
7 – Horsepower –Sahin Civaci – Joe Orseno
8 – I’m a Gambler (IRE) – Flavien Prat – Kevin Attard
Attard trio primed for Grade 3 Ontario Matron test
TORONTO, September 11, 2025 – Sovereign Award-winning trainer Kevin Attard will send out the trio of Wild Pansy (GB), defending champion Fashionably Fab and 2024 King’s Plate winner Caitlinhergrtness in the $150,000 Ontario Matron Stakes (G3), Saturday at Woodbine.
Wild Pansy (GB), owned by Repole Stable, will make her first North American start in the 1 1/16-mile main track feature for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up.
A daughter of Siyouni (FR) out of the Frankel (GB) mare Ejtyah (GB), the 5-year-old has posted a third and pair of wins in her past three starts, including a last time out score in the Prix de la Rotonde de Minerve (Handicap) at Chantilly on November 12.
"The last two starts were quite impressive,” said Attard. “She dug down to win by a neck at Deauville and then won by almost two lengths at Chantilly. In the race before those ones, she was third but wasn't far back at all.
“We've had the chance to look at some of her races and it's very impressive. She's obviously in good form and she settled in well here right from the start. Her last start was in November, but everything we've seen from her leading up to the race is very encouraging."
Bred in England by Rabbah Bloodstock Limited, the bay mare has recorded a series of works at Woodbine over three different surfaces – main track, turf training track and dirt training track – including a five-furlong breeze in 1:03.60 on the dirt training track, in preparation for the Ontario Matron.
"We're excited for this new chapter in her career,” said Attard. “She's moved well over all three surfaces that she's trained on. She is very easy to work with. You can see the talent is there and so is the mindset."
Wild Pansy (GB) debuted with a second over eight furlongs at Chantilly on April 3, 2023. Fifteen days later, at Lyon Parilly, she broke her maiden, again at eight furlongs, courtesy of a 2 ½-length score in the Desir De Mai Maiden Stakes.
"She has run very well on the Poly and at the distance, so we're hoping for a big performance on Saturday,” said Attard.
Repole purchased Wild Pansy (GB) for €450,000 at the 2024 Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale.
Rafael Hernandez gets the call.
Mark Walcott is the groom.
Attard will also send out who last year’s winner, Sovereign Award recipient (2025 champion older main track female) and multiple graded stakes winner Fashionably Fab.
Sporting a record of 10-0-4 from 20 starts, along with $555,958 in purse earnings, Fashionably Fab’s stakes success includes victories in the 2024 editions of the Belle Mahone (G3) and La Prevoyante, and 2022 Shady Well. She won five straight races, all stakes, from September 12, 2023, to June 1, 2024.
The daughter of Silent Name (JPN) out of the Curlin mare Flashy’s Legacy debuted with a third in September 2022 and then won her next three starts, including the Shady Well that December.
A homebred for Terra Racing Stable, the 5-year-old dark bay has raced three times this year, including a third in her most recent start, the 1 1/16-mile Trillium Stakes (G3) on July 26.
“I thought her last race was quite good,” said Attard. “She came with a really nice run and had a lot of energy in the late going. The hope now is that she can build off that effort and run a big one here.
"We'd love to see a repeat of last year's race. She just kept on coming and was so determined down the lane. Her first two starts of this year (fifth in the Belle Mahone (G3) and eighth in the Dominion Day (G3)) were disappointing, but she is showing that she is back to her old self.”
Fashionably Fab covered four furlongs in :49.60 over the main track on September 6.
“We've always liked her – for a lot of reasons,” said Attard. “She has the ability to take on talented competition and we're happy with the way she is coming into the race. “The distance is definitely in her wheelhouse, so we’re looking for a big one from her."
Pietro Moran will ride.
Hopeton Francis is the groom.
Cailtinhergrtness, the 2024 King’s Plate winner and Canada’s champion 3-year-old female, named after WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark, will contest her ninth straight stakes fixture.
The 4-year-old daughter of Omaha Beach out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Belatrix made a winning seasonal debut in the 1 1/16-mile Belle Mahone (G3), a main track race for fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up.
It was the first graded stakes crown for the WinStar Farm LLC chestnut filly.
Cailtinhergrtness was eighth in the Nassau (G2T) on June 28, second in the Trillium (G3) on July 26 and fifth in the E.P. Taylor (G1T) on August 16.
“The last two times she raced on the Poly and at this distance, in the Belle Mahone and the Trillium, she ran very impressively,” said Attard. “It’s been an up and down year so far Caitlin, but we know what she is capable of. She is coming into the race in great order.”
Bred in Ontario by Jesse Korona, Caitlinhergrtness is 4-2-2 from 13 lifetime starts, accompanied by $813,247 in purse earnings.
“She’s hooked some tough competition this year and that’s the case once again,” said Attard. “We are hoping she shows her true self on Saturday, and all signs point towards that being the case.”
Flavien Prat will be in the irons.
Troy Garnett is the groom.
“She has changed my life in a big way,” said Garnett. “Being in the game a long time, she propelled me to new heights. Whenever people see the board with the list of Plate winners, her name will be on there forever. She has given me so much and I truly love her.”
First post time is 1:05 p.m. Fans can wager on all the action via HPIbet.com and bet365.com.
The wagering menu for the Ontario Matron includes Rolling Double, Exacta, 0.20 Trifecta, 0.20 Superfecta, 0.20 Pick 3 (Races 7-8-9), 0.20, Mandatory Jackpot Power PK6 (Races 7-8-9-10-11-12), $1 Swinger.
Field for the Grade 3 $150,000 Ontario Matron – Race 7
Post - Horse - Jockey – Trainer
1 – Dancing N Dixie – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse
2 – Talk to Ya Later – Slade Jones – Ian Black
3 – Avenue Niel (IRE) – Joel Rosario – Michael Trombetta
4 – Wild Pansy (GB) – Rafael Hernandez – Kevin Attard
5 – For Flying (BRZ) – Dylan Davis – Graham Motion
6 – Literate – Sahin Civaci – Martin Drexler
7 – Blitz (S) – Fraser Aebly – Mark Casse
8 – Johanny – Frankie Dettori – Eoin Harty
9 – Five Towns (GB) – John Velazquez – Graham Motion
10 – Caitlinhergrtness – Flavien Prat – Kevin Attard
11 – Hurricane Clair – Eswan Flores – Martin Drexler
12 – Fashionably Fab – Pietro Moran – Kevin Attard
Chris Lomon, Woodbine
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