Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Moonlit Promise on stakes roll
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Moonlit Promise seeks her third consecutive stakes win in Sunday’s Grade 2, $175,000 Bessarabian Stakes for fillies and mares at Woodbine.
The race will be seven furlongs on Tapeta.
Moonlit Promise has won both her starts in 2017. She made her seasonal debut with a win in the Sweet Briar Too Stakes over 6 1/2 furlongs Sept. 17, and recorded her first career graded stakes victory with a 1 1/4-length score over Minks Aprise in the Grade 3 Ontario Fashion Stakes over six furlongs Oct. 28.
Jockey Gary Boulanger retains the mount in the Bessarabian for trainer Josie Carroll and owners Hill ’n’ Dale Equine Holdings and Windsor Boys Racing. Boulanger has been aboard for Moonlit Promise’s last four starts, three of which were wins.
“This filly has been really, really good to me,” Boulanger said following the Ontario Fashion. “Last year, I got to ride her and this year, first time out of the box, she wins the Sweet Briar Too. She came into [the Ontario Fashion] really, really well. She trained forwardly, and I wasn’t worried about the cutback in distance. She’s impressed me all along.”
KEY CONTENDERS
Moonlit Promise, by Malibu Moon Last 3 Beyers: 86-87-77
◗ She’s been in the exacta in seven of her eight career starts, five of them wins. The lone start she did not place in the top two came in the Grade 3 Maple Leaf Stakes over 1 1/4 miles last season.
Minks Aprise, by Northern Fleet Last 3 Beyers: 84-74-85
◗ She’ll be looking for some better racing luck in this year’s edition of the Bessarabian after encountering traffic trouble on the far turn and settling for third in last year’s running.
◗ She won the Trillium Stakes going long back in June, but has run second in both of her sprint starts this season.
Sister Nation, by Into Mischief Last 3 Beyers: 85-68-82
◗ She comes into the Bessarabian off back-to-back wins, which included her first stakes score in the Ruling Angel Stakes over 6 1/2 furlongs Oct. 8.
◗ The 3-year-old will face older fillies and mares in this spot, but she did defeat older horses in her maiden win two starts back June 17.
Boreale, by Makfi Last 3 Beyers: 81-81-85
◗ After making her first four starts in North America on turf, she ran second Nov. 3 in the River Memories Stakes on Tapeta, a race that was washed off the grass.
◗ She does have extensive experience running on synthetic surfaces in France, including two allowance wins over 7 1/2 furlongs at Deauville in 2016.