Filly Caitlinhergrtness a surprise King’s Plate winner

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She wasn’t originally nominated to the King’s Plate, but her connections thought enough of Caitlinhergrtness to put up $25,000 to get her into the race. And while it happened six days after it was supposed to, that investment paid off.

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The lone filly in the 12-horse field, Caitlinhergrtness won the 165th edition of Canada’s most prestigious horse race on Friday, a race that had been rescheduled from last Saturday after heavy rains forced postponement.

The moment was not lost on jockey Rafael Hernandez, who enthusiastically raised his fist in joy after his mount caught 3-5 favourite My Boy Prince in deep stretch of the $1 million event.

Hernandez now has three Plates to his credit after riding Shaman Ghost in 2015, then teaming with trainer Kevin Attard to win the race two years ago with Moira. Caitlinhergrtness was one of three horses trained by Attard as he sought his second crown.

“Obviously the first was a little more sentimental,” Attard said. “But it’s still a great feeling.”

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Caitlinhergrtness was around five lengths off the lead early in the 1 1/4-mile race. She continued to maintain that tracking spot through the backstretch as Essex Serpent took the field along. Around the turn, My Boy Prince blew by his Mark Casse-trained stablemate, who faded back. But looming was Caitlinhergrtness who went to second. In the stretch, she moved closer to My Boy Prince with each stride and caught him with about 100 yards left to score by 3/4 of a length at odds of 9-1. Midnight Mascot finished third.

“I know (Essex Serpent and My Boy Prince) are great horses so we just wanted to be clear to the top of the stretch.”

“I kept behind (My Boy Prince) the whole way then in the stretch we let her do her thing.”

“Considering everything we’ve gone through this week, I’m just grateful I have another filly to do this.”

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Named after basketball star Caitlin Clark, Caitlinhergrtness (horse names are limited to 18 letters and spaces, thus the shortening) raced in the U.S. under trainer Todd Pletcher. She won one of four starts, a September score at Aqueduct.

The horse transferred to Attard’s barn in April and with few options, she was entered in an optional claiming race on the turf, which she won easily.

That prompted a start in the Woodbine Oaks, where she led in deep stretch only to be caught late by Kin’s Concerto. That effort was enough for owners Siena Farm and WinStar Farm to take the Plate shot.

“I had her on my radar and when I found out she was coming to my barn, I was ecstatic.”

“With the Oaks coming, we elected to run her on the turf after a previous race did not fill. She won the race and came out of the race in good order.”

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“Her wide post in the Oaks hurt our chances but she didn’t disgrace herself.”

With the shortened timeframe between the Plate and the Prince of Wales Stakes on Sept. 10, Attard was still considering whether Caitlinhergrtness would run at Fort Erie.

Despite moving the race to a weekday, a good crowd still came out with many dressing up to keep with the tradition of the race.

WINNERS CROWNED

Four other stakes events were moved from Saturday. Trainer Mark Casse captured the $150,000 Catch a Glimpse Stakes but instead of heavy favourite Bullet taking the honors, it was 11-1 long shot Shifty going to the lead in the six-furlong turf race and dominating.

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Ridden by Sahin Civaci, Shifty is now one-for-two lifetime and may start in the Natalma Stakes.

Casse and Civaci also teamed up to win the $200,000 King Edward Stakes with Filo di Arianna. But that horse, sent off as the 3-5 favourite, had to pass the stiff test administered by War Bomber. Civaci went right to the lead with the eight-year-old gelding but after setting quick early fractions, War Bomber came to him in the stretch and looked to go by. But Filo di Arianna dug down and got the win by a short head.

Now nine-for-17 lifetime, Casse indicated Filo di Arianna will head to the Woodbine Mile.

Casse and Civaci finished second in the Plate with My Boy Prince.

Patches O’Houlihan continues to be a win machine. The four-year-old Ontario-bred gelding is now nine-for-11 after a gate-to-wire triumph in the $150,000 Bold Venture Stakes. Ridden by Sofia Vives, who had three winners on the card, Patches O’Houlihan kept a straight path along the rail while late-closers Playmea Tune and I’m a Gambler drifted out in the stretch. It’s the sixth stakes win for the Bob Tiller trainee.

Cairo Caper opened the stakes portion of the card with a win in the $150,000 Soaring Free Stakes. Ridden by Jose Campos, Cairo Caper was allowed heavily favored Mensa to set the early pace. In the stretch, Mensa faded badly and Dream On took the lead but Cairo Caper continued to battle and seized command with 100 yards left in the 6 1/2-furlong contest.

Trainer Nathan Squires said the two-year-old gelding, now two-for-three lifetime, will likely go in the Summer Stakes. The Summer, Natalma and Woodbine Mile will take place Sept. 14 and are all Breeders’ Cup qualifiers.

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