Unbeaten in two starts, Yukon Striker sets sail for Grade 3 Marine / ‘Law’ and order: Dixie Law chases Grade 3 Selene crown
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TORONTO, June 24, 2026 – Yukon Striker, trained by Kevin Attard for TEC Racing, steps up to the stakes ranks for Saturday’s $150,000 Marine (G3), a key King’s Plate prep, at Woodbine.
Set at 1 1/16 miles on the main track, the event for 3-year-olds has drawn six starters. With the 167th running of Canada’s historic horse race less than two months away, on Aug. 15, hopefuls will look to solidify themselves as contenders for the $1 million classic.
A son of Maclean’s Music out of the unraced Stormy Atlantic mare Thee Pie, Yukon Striker will look to build off a pair of impressive performances to launch his career.
The bay debuted last November at Woodbine at 5 ½ furlongs over the main track. Sent on his way as the 5-2 choice in the field of 11, Yukon Striker was forced in at the start and then steadied at the five-sixteenths, before striking front a furlong out en route to a one-length score.
His 3-year-old debut on May 17 yielded a 1 ¾-length score over 6 furlongs on the main track.
“I think both races were impressive,” said Attard. “His first start this year, he broke inwards, but then he settled into stride nicely and showed a lot of good energy down the lane.
“With any young horse, you hope to see them grow, mentally and physically, from 2 to 3 and he has done that and done it impressively.”
Attard, who has three Plates to his name, in 2022 with the filly Moira, in 2024 with another filly, Caitlinhergrtness, and last year with Mansetti, is hoping Yukon Striker will get his shot in the 1 ¼-mile classic.
“Obviously, the million-dollar question when it comes to racing in a $1 million dollar race is if a horse can get the distance. There’s no denying he has plenty of talent and we’d love to be in the Plate, so we will find out those answers as we go along.”
The winner of 917 career races likes what he sees in the gelding.
“He looks the part and every day he’s learning more and showing confidence in his abilities. It’s an exciting time of the year. You dream big and hope the dream becomes a reality for the owners, breeders and everyone associated with your Plate hopeful.”
Yukon Striker was a $40,000 purchase at the CTHS Premier Yearling Sale.
Richard Taylor is the groom.
Recent works: Yukon Striker has posted four breezes since his May win, two at 4 panels and two at 6 panels, all on the Woodbine main track.
On June 20, he covered 4 furlongs in :48.00.
“If I had to take one thing away from them all, it’s that he’s a horse who wants to be out there in the mornings and wants to put the work in,” said Attard. “His last breeze was the perfect example of that – determined down the lane, strong to the finish and strong on the gallop out.”
Fast Facts: Compactor, a Kentucky-bred son of Nirgal, won the inaugural running in 1956. Dual hall of fame trainer Roger Attfield has a record five Marine wins.
Wagering menu for the Marine: Includes Rolling Double / Exacta / 0.20 Trifecta / 0.20 Superfecta / 0.20 Pick 3 (Races 6-7-8) / 0.20 Jackpot Power PK6 (Races 6-7-8-9-10-11) / $1 Swinger
Field for the Marine Stakes (G3)
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Casson – Rafael Hernandez – Mark Casse
2 – Magical Factor – Kazushi Kimura – Rachel Halden
3 – Fire and Wine – Slade Jones – Zeljko Krcmar
4 – Yoshii – Fraser Aebly – Dale Desruisseaux
5 – Brachetto (S) – Ryan Munger – Julia Carey
6 – Yukon Striker – Pietro Moran – Kevin Attard
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‘Law’ and order: Dixie Law chases Grade 3 Selene crown
TORONTO, June 24, 2026 – Graded stakes winner Dixie Law will face six rivals in Saturday’s $150,000 Selene Stakes (G3).
A key prep for the Woodbine Oaks Presented by Stella Artois (July 19), the Selene, an open race for 3-year-old fillies, includes Dale Desruisseaux trainee Dixie Law.
The daughter of Tiz the Law out of the Union Rags mare Bit of Dixie made her 3-year-old debut in the Ruling Angel Stakes, a 7-furlong main track test for 3-year-old fillies, earning a gritty nose win in 1:22.58.
“She showed what a determined horse she is,” praised Desruisseaux. “She had to really dig down deep to get the win and she did. She just kept coming and really fought to get to the wire first. It was a bang-up race.”
A finalist for the 2025 Sovereign Award in the Champion Two-Year-Old Female category, the bay had an outstanding rookie campaign, posting three victories from five starts, including notable wins in the Mazarine Stakes (G3) and the Cup & Saucer Stakes.
Dixie Law won her debut on July 12 at Woodbine when she rallied with vigor for a 1 ½-length triumph in the 6-furlong race over the E.P. Taylor turf.
Next time out, in her first stakes test, the Natalma (G1T), contested on Sept. 13, she was sixth at 48-1, albeit just 2 ½ lengths behind the winner, in the 1-mile inner turf test for 2-year-olds.
Dixie Law earned her first stakes crown in the $250,000 Cup & Saucer, a 1 1/16-mile inner turf feature showcasing 2-year-olds foaled in Canada, on Oct. 5 at Woodbine.
She followed it up with a win in the Mazarine (G3) on Nov. 2 and completed her 2-year-old season with a fourth in the Coronation Futurity, at 1 1/8 miles over the Woodbine main track on Nov. 29.
“We had a couple of issues at the end of the year, and I think that is why her performance wasn’t as good in the last start," said Desruisseaux. "But she has come back in great shape, and we are looking forward to Saturday.”
Desruisseaux is also hopeful of what could be next on her list of engagements.
“She tries her eyeballs out every time she runs, and I think we’re heading in the right direction to the [Woodbine] Oaks and maybe the [King’s] Plate.”
Kyle MacDonald is the groom.
Recent works: Recent works: Dixie Law recorded a pair of 5-furlong works in June, both on the Woodbine main track.
On June 7, she breezed in a bullet :59.20 and followed it up on June 17 with a 1:00.00 move.
“We’re very happy with the last couple of breezes,” said Desruisseaux. We spaced them out about 10 days from each other and 10 days ahead of the race, just because she does a fair bit in the mornings. She’s pretty aggressive in the mornings.”
Fast Facts: Gary Barber and the late Conn Smythe lead all owners with four Selene wins. Dual hall of fame trainer Mark Casse has won a record eight editions, including six-straight victories, from 2018-23. Carolator won the first running in 1954.
Wagering menu for the Selene: Includes Rolling Double / Exacta / 0.20 Trifecta / 0.20 Superfecta / 0.20 Pick 3 (Races 8-9-10) / 0.20 Pick 4 (Races 8-9-10-11) / $1 Swinger
Field for the Selene Stakes (G3)
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Dixie Law – Rafael Hernandez – Dale Desruisseaux
2 – Luster – Fraser Aebly – Josie Carroll
3 – Bold Time – Eswan Flores – Josie Carroll
4 – Katie’s Grace – Ryan Munger – Catherine Day Phillips
5 – Classic Move – Romero Ramsay Maragh – Mark Casse
6 – Lake Louise (S) – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Mark Casse
7 – Tulip – Alex Achard – William Walden
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Chris Lomon, Woodbine
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