Slam dunk: Caitlinhergrtness much the best in Grade 3 Ontario Matron
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TORONTO, September 13, 2025 – Caitlinhergrtness, named after WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark, rebounded from an off-key performance last time out to win the $150,000 Ontario Matron (G3), for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up, Saturday at Woodbine.
After finishing fifth in the E.P. Taylor Stakes (G1T) on August 16, Caitlinhergrtness, under Flavien Prat, was back on the winning track courtesy of a dominant effort as the 4-5 mutuel choice in the Ontario Matron.
Hurricane Clair broke sharply in the 1 1/16-mile main track event, with multiple graded stakes winner Fashionably Fab and stablemate Cailtinhergrtness also quickly crossing over from the outside heading into the first turn.
It was Hurricane Clair, ahead of Fashionably Fab by 1 ½ lengths through an opening quarter in :24.68, still on top after a half in :49.62, while Caitlinhergrtness, last year’s King’s Plate winner, tracked the pacesetters comfortably from in third.
Gliding up three-wide around the turn for home, Caitlinhergrtness seized the lead in early stretch and then powered away from her pursuers with every stride. Ahead by a length at the stretch call, the 4-year-old daughter of Omaha Beach out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Belatrix, crossed the wire a 3 ¼-length winner. Hurricane Clair was a game second, a half-length ahead of For Flying (BRZ). Five Towns (GB) was fourth.
The final time was 1:42.92. Blitz was scratched.
“I just personally think she just needs two turns,” said winning trainer Kevin Attard. “And the way the E.P. Taylor turf course is configured, it's not to her liking and when she did win on the turf, it was on the inner turf course. With the E.P. Taylor in your backyard, you've got to give it a stab, but obviously, now she's kind of back doing what she likes. And obviously she showed her true colours today.”
It was the fifth win, to go along with two seconds and a pair of thirds, from 14 starts for the chestnut filly, who was named Canada’s champion 3-year-old female.
“Like I said, she just kind of reiterated the fact that she wants two turns,” said Attard. “And sure enough, today, she got that, and she showed what she's capable of.”
Bred in Ontario by Jesse Korona, the filly, owned by WinStar Farm LLC, was a $375,000 purchase at the 2023 Ocala Breeders' Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training.
Caitlinhergrtness paid $3.70.
Chris Lomon, Woodbine
