TORONTO, September 12, 2024 – Metaphysical, a daughter of American Freedom-Another Ghazo, will contest her third consecutive Grade 3 engagement when she goes postward in Saturday’s $150,000 Ontario Matron at Woodbine. The 1 1/16-mile main track feature for fillies and mares, 3-years-old and upward, has drawn 14 starters, including the 4-year-old chestnut, who has fashioned a mark of 2-4-0, to go along with $282,117 in purse earnings, from 16 races. Trained by Tony Gattellaro for owner John Ryan, Metaphysical arrives at the Ontario Matron off a hard-charging fourth, just 2 ¼ lengths behind winner Ticker Tape Home, in the seven-furlong Seaway Stakes on August 24. Metaphysical and jockey Kazushi Kimura winning Race 7 on May 11, 2024 at Woodbine (Michael Burns Photo) “My expectations were tempered, knowing that she had been off for 85 days,” said Gattellaro. “Knowing how talented she is, it didn’t surprise me all that much to see her put forth a big effort. We missed the break just a touch and got pinched back by the two horses beside us, so it wasn’t ideal to be that far back. But did she ever come rolling. It got us out of our seats.” One race prior, Metaphysical was fourth in the 1 1/16-mile Belle Mahone Stakes on June 1. “I think she needed that last one in the Seaway. We’re very high on her and I think it is a matter of time before she wins one of these graded stakes. Bred in Kentucky by Brereton Jones, she made her Woodbine debut this May, an impressive 1 ¼-length triumph over seven panels on the main track. Metaphysical’s career bow, on August 6, 2022, yielded a fourth at Horseshoe Indianapolis. A fifth at Kentucky Downs was followed by a fourth and a sixth at Churchill Downs that October. The breakthrough came in her fifth start when she posted a half-length win at 1 /16 miles over the Gulfstream all-weather track on Boxing Day 2022. “We knew [she had talent] right from the start, the moment we first galloped her,” said Gattellaro, who took over the training reins last November. “The very first day I saw under her tack – she is just so efficient in her stride – and it was very evident how good she was right from the start. “Outside of the barn, she is lovely and has a beautiful temperament. Inside, she has a large personality and asserts her dominance – she can make the groom’s job a lot tougher than mine. We have a great guy, Reco, who gallops her in the mornings, and he does a wonderful job with her as well.” Metaphysical was purchased by Ryan for $240,000 at the 2023 Keeneland Association November Breeding Stock Sale. “Mr. Ryan is a fantastic owner and friend. He is thoroughly enjoying the Woodbine experience with his family, and he intends to send more bloodstock this way,” said Gattellaro. “He’s going to be here for the race, and we would love to get him this win.” Alexa Wisnoski is the groom. “Metaphysical has been a wicked horse to work with… in every manner of that word,” said Wisnoski. “She’s got a huge personality with strong opinions, so she definitely keeps me on my toes while working with her. But it all gets balanced out by the end of the morning when she’s just so happy she got out of her stall to train or walk. “She turns into an absolute angel princess when it’s time to get pampered. Grain time is the best time. And not much makes her happier than carrots. At the end of the day, it’s impossible not to love every part of her.” Blueberry Fields, trained and owned by Brandon Greer, will step into the stakes spotlight for the first time in the Ontario Matron. The 6-year-old daughter of Frac Daddy-Candy Cruise has been a model of consistency for Greer, who co-bred the grey with his father, Terrance. In 12 starts, Blueberry Fields has a mark of 5-2-2, to go along with $219,362 in purse earnings. “She is a pleasure to have,” said Greer. “She is a lot of work, but very much a pleasure. She’s big, has big energy – everything about her is big. She is beautiful and we are extremely proud of her.” After a third, eleventh and seventh to start her career, the Ontario-bred mare has finished in the top four in nine straight races. From July 13, 2023, to October 28, 2023, a span of five starts, she went 3-2-0. Blueberry Field’s past two starts, which were both taken off the turf and run on the Woodbine main track, include a half-length score at 1 1/16 miles on August 17. Blueberry Fields and jockey Justin Stein winning Race 5 on August 17, 2024 at Woodbine (Michael Burns Photo) “Every time she runs, she gets more comfortable,” noted Greer. “She doesn’t have to have things her way like she once did. In that last race, she had to wait, and she wasn’t always comfortable being in that position. She was able to hang in there, be chill, until she got that little space to make her move and boy, did she ever take advantage of it.” Greer is no stranger to graded stakes glory at his home track. In 2021, his Town Cruise wired the field in the $1 million Woodbine Mile (G1T). He will look to duplicate that result with a horse who is at the top of her game. “We had a lot of faith in her before she started running. She has a beautiful look to her and that great stride was apparent right away. How good she would be we weren’t sure, but she had the foundation to be successful. “Even at 6, she is maturing in her races and getting more confident. With that confidence, she seems to find more versatility. She doesn’t have to have things her own way anymore when she races. She’s quite confident in herself. Just like her brother, Town cruise, she knows when she’s done well.” Craig Giuliani is the groom. Other starters include multiple graded stakes winner Solo Album, graded stakes winners Affirmative Lady, Fashionably Fab, and Sabatini, and multiple graded stakes placed Forever Dixie. Also on Saturday, seven hopefuls will travel six furlongs in the $150,000 Branded Cities Vigil Stakes (G3). The main track race, for 3-year-olds and up, includes Patches O’Houlihan. Trained by Robert Tiller for owner and breeder Frank Di Giulio, Jr., the 4-year-old gelding is a multiple graded stakes winning son of Reload-Maythefourthbwithu. Bred in Ontario, the bay, who has compiled a 9-0-0 record from 11 starts, along with $455,445 in career earnings, was crowned Canada’s champion male sprinter of 2023. Patches O’Houlihan heads into the Vigil off a sharp score in the Bold Venture (G3) on August 23. “He’s a very good horse, and he’s proved it again today,” praised Tiller, after the latest triumph. “And we’re blessed and very happy to win it. So, I’m thrilled. I’m absolutely thrilled.” Other starters include multiple graded stakes winner War Bomber (IRE), graded stakes winner Ironstone, and graded stakes placed I’m A Gambler (IRE), and Rockcrest. First post time is 1:10 p.m. Fans can also watch and wager on all the action via HPIbet.com and bet365.com. Field for the Grade 3 Ontario Matron (Race 6) Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer 1 – Libban – Edgard Zayas – Saffie Joseph, Jr. 2 – Elysian Field – Sahin Civaci – Mark Casse 3 – Rosie’s Alibi – Antonio Gallardo – Michael Trombetta 4 – Affirmative Lady – Rafael Hernandez – Michael Stidham 5 – Blueberry Fields – Justin Stein – Brandon Greer 6 – Batucada – Umberto Rispoli – Saffie Joseph, Jr. 7 – Sand and Sea – Axel Concepcion – Riley Mott 8 – Fashionably Fab – Kazushi Kimura – Kevin Attard 9 – Solo Album – Frankie Dettori – Mark Casse 10 – Sabatini – John Velazquez – Josie Carroll 11 – Forever Dixie – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse 12 – Tito’s Calling – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Michael De Paulo 13 – Ro Town – Kazushi Kimura – Kevin Attard 14 – Metaphysical – Luis Contreras – Tony Gattellaro (AE) 15 – Ephrata (GB) – Sofia Vives – Josie Carroll Field for the Grade 3 Vigil (Race 11) Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer 1 – Remuda – Umberto Rispoli – Eoin Harty 2 – Last American Exit – Jose Campos – Harold Ladouceur 3 – I’m A Gambler (IRE) – Sahin Civaci – Kevin Attard 4 – Ironstone – Kazushi Kimura – William Armata 5 – War Bomber (IRE) – Rafael Hernandez – Norm McKnight 6 – Rockcrest – Keveh Nicholls – Nigel Burke 7 – Patches O’Houlihan – Sofia Vives – Robert Tiller Chris Lomon, Woodbine Share This:Share
