‘Hurricane’ Warning: Hurricane Clair digs deep for Wonder Where victory

TORONTO, September 8, 2024 – Hurricane Clair was able to best a stubborn Stormcast to win the $250,000 Wonder Where Stakes, the third leg of the Canadian Triple Tiara, Sunday at Woodbine.

Stormcast, a dominant winner of the Bison City, second jewel in the Triple Tiara, and Hurricane Clair, runner-up in that race, set the stage for what would be a stretch-long duel in the 1 ¼-mile turf race for Canadian-foaled 3-year-old fillies when they came out of the gate one-two entering the first turn.

It was Stormcast, the 1-5 choice, who found the front and held a two-length advantage over 7-1 second choice Hurricane Clair through an opening quarter in :25.05, followed by Kevin Attard trainees Vucchella and My Girl Della.

There was little change throughout the seven-horse field after a half in :48.38, as Stormcast continued to call the shots, while Hurricane Clair and jockey Sahin Civaci continued to shadow the frontrunner.

As the field navigated its way into the final turn, it quickly became a two-horse race as the leaders separated themselves from the pack and commenced a stirring stretch battle down the long E.P. Taylor stretch.

Neither filly gave an inch, Hurricane Clair to the outside, and Stormcast along the rail, as the former led by a head at Robert Geller’s stretch call.

It was Hurricane Clair who ultimately gained the upper hand late to eke out a half-length win over a determined Stormcast. Saccharine secured third, three-quarters of a length in front of My Girl Della.

The final time over good ground was 2:01.14.

A Little Frisky, Vucchella, and Quality Presence rounded out the order of finish.

“We had a good trip,” said Civaci, who has been aboard the daughter of Silent Name (JPN)-Hurricane Lorraine for all but one of her starts. “I was trailing the favourite and I kept an eye on him. And my horse was going along pretty well too. I was comfortable with the pace, and when it was time, just nudged up to him, and it was a battle between two good horses. They both were holding onto their ground, and we just inched up before the wire.”

“She’s getting her confidence and knowing what’s going on. She’s running much better now.”

Hurricane Clair, who broke her maiden in last year’s Muskoka Stakes, competed in all three legs of the Canadian Triple Tiara. She was third in the Woodbine Oaks Presented by Stella Artois on July 20 and second in the Bison City Stakes on August 10.

“We’ve been a little bit quiet the last couple of weeks, so it’s been a needed a confidence builder here,” said Martin Drexler, who trains for David Rowbotham, Rodney Carpenter and Tony Boogmans. “This filly has been doing everything right the whole time.

“I figured the way that the track’s playing today, you had to be in the race early. I told Sahin to just, don’t let the other one get away too far, and then we’ll just see what we’ve got.”

Bred by Bru-Mel Stables Co., Hurricane Clair was $35,000 purchase at the 2022 CTHS Canadian-Bred Yearling Sale.

Greg Howell is the groom.

Now 3-3-2 from 10 starts, Hurricane Clair paid $16.40 for the win.

Chris Lomon, Woodbine