TORONTO, April 26, 2025 – Brindi (IRE), and Listen and Learn, both from the barn of Kelsey Danner, went one-two in the $125,000 Star Shoot Stakes, a 6-furlong sprint for 3-year-old fillies, Saturday at Woodbine. Brindi (IRE), under two-time Canadian champion apprentice Sofia Vives, rocketed out of the gates in the first stakes race of the 2025 Woodbine season, as 6-5 choice Winterberry shadowed the leader to her outside through an opening quarter reached in :22.36. The pacesetting duo, well in front of their four rivals, continued to slug it out through a half in :44.80, followed by Social Code, Charlotte’s Heart, Salt and Listen and Learn. Brindi (IRE) braced for the challenge of Winterberry, who dialed up the pressure as the pair turned for home, but Vives and the chestnut filly dug in gamely along the rail and repelled the challenge. Ahead by a half-length at the stretch call, Brindi (IRE) was kept to task and held strong in the final strides to cross the wire a 1 ¾-length winner. Listen and Learn rallied wide to secure second, a head in front of Social Code. Charlotte’s Heart was fourth, followed by Winterberry and then Salt. The final time on a blustery afternoon was 1:10.75. Brindi (IRE) and jockey Sofia Vives winning the Star Shoot Stakes on April 26, 2025 (Opening Day) at Woodbine (Michael Burns Photo) Vives, who won five races on opening day last year at Woodbine, including the Star Shoot with Sabatini, praised Danner for having the filly primed for her first Canadian test. “Kelsey had her ready today,” said Vives. “Thank you to her and her team for giving us the opportunity. The filly broke sharp today. With the way the weather is, speed is carrying, so, you put her up there. We had a tough horse to beat, but she proved today she was the better one.” A daughter of No Nay Never out of the Shamardal mare Salamah (IRE), Brindi (IRE), owned by Robert M. Evans, earned her first stakes victory and is now 3-0-1 from seven starts. “I was really confident with her from the start [of the race],” said Vives, of the horse who has been in the Danner barn since this past November. “You got to come in these races confident and when somebody ships someone in, like Kelsey does, be ready that they’re going be pretty tough to beat.” The Star Shoot was Brindi’s fourth start of the season. She came into the race off a trio of tilts on the Tapeta at Turfway Park, including a fourth in the 6-furlong Serena’s Song Stakes on March 29. Brindi (IRE) debuted with a pair of 5 ½-furlong races over the Saratoga turf last summer. She broke her maiden in her third start, at Delaware Park, in an ‘about’ 5-furlong turf sprint, as the 2-5 choice. She followed up that victory with another win in her 3-year-old debut in a 6 ½-furlong race at Turfway Park on January 17. Bred by Framont Ltd., Brindi (IRE) was a $75,000 (USD) purchase at the 2024 Keeneland Association Horses of Racing Age sale. She paid $10.60 for the Star Shoot win. Jockey Sofia Vives, Woodbine CEO Michael Copeland, and Assistant Trainer Matt Hartman (Michael Burns Photo) In other Saturday racing news, Bob and Jules, a 4-year-old son of Old Forester, won the first race of the season. Under Brooke Bays, the bay gelding, bred in Ontario by John and Breeda Hayes and trained by Carrie Russiani – she also co-owns with David Grant – broke his maiden in his second career start. Bob and Jules won the 5-furlong main track sprint by a head and paid $6.50 for the victory. Affrie Ward, who competed at Northlands Park in 2011 and also rode in his home country of Barbados, won the third race with first-time starter Buff Bay. The 3-year-old son of Reload paid $28.90. Live Thoroughbred racing at Woodbine continues Sunday afternoon on a card that includes the $125,000 Woodstock Stakes. Post time is 1:05 p.m. Chris Lomon, Woodbine Share This:Share
