A brave Brindi (IRE) digs deep for Ruling Angel win

TORONTO, May 17, 2025– Brindi (IRE), under Sofia Vives, showed no shortage of grit and gumption throughout the stretch drive to prevail in the $100,000 Ruling Angel Stakes Presented by Ketel One, Saturday at Woodbine.

Making her fifth start of the year and second straight appearance at Woodbine, the Kelsey Danner trainee was able to stave off several spirited challenges in the seven-furlong main track race for 3-year-old fillies.

Shotgun Wedding blasted out of the gates to gain the early lead and was quickly shadowed to her outside by Brindi (IRE), who came into the race off an impressive victory in the Star Shoot Stakes on April 26. The duo dueled through an opening panel in :23.35 and continued on with their tussle after a half in :46.03.

Brindi (IRE) assumed a narrow advantage turning for home, but a game Shotgun Wedding dug in and was back on even terms with her rival midway down the lane, neither giving an inch.

After she re-established the lead, Brindi (IRE) then braced for the challenges of several foes from all sides, including a spirited late outside run from 2-1 choice Somethinabouther and a hard-charging Social Code between horses, while Shotgun Wedding remained resolute along the inside.

It was Brindi (IRE) who emerged on top by a nose over Somethinabouther, with Social Code a neck back of the runner-up. Shotgun Wedding was a further neck back in fourth. Madame Obey and Hibiscus, scratched from the Ruling Angel, will contest Sunday’s King Corrie Stakes.

The final time was 1:22.77.

“You know, last time [Star Shoot] she had dueled the whole way, and she still really dug in,” noted Vives. “I thought if she can get a breather, she should be tough enough to fight on, and she got headed and she dug in with the horse inside and the one outside of her. So, it shows that she’s much the best here.”

A daughter of No Nay Never out of the Shamardal mare Salamah (IRE), Brindi (IRE) has been with Danner since November.

“We bought her out of the [Keeneland Association Horses of Racing Age] sale last fall,” said Danner, of the $75,000 (USD) purchase. “We liked her a lot from the start.”

Brindi (IRE) debuted with a pair of 5 ½-furlong races over the Saratoga turf last summer, which produced a third and fourth. 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, this time with Danner as the trainer, in her 3-year-old debut at Turfway Park on January 17. She bested eight rivals in a 6 ½-furlong race.

Bred in Ireland by Framont Ltd., she came to Woodbine after three races on the Tapeta at Turfway, including a fourth in the six-furlong Serena’s Song Stakes on March 29.

Owned by Robert M. Evans, the chestnut filly has now won four times and posted a third in eight starts.

“It’s a great feeling,” said Vives, of the Ruling Angel score. “You’ve got a solid horse under you, a solid trainer. They don’t ship in to lose. So, it’s a pretty good feeling to have the honour to ride for these guys and hopefully many more winners to come.”

Brindi (IRE) paid $8.60 for the win.

Live racing resumes Sunday with a first post of 1:05 p.m. The featured race is the $100,000 King Corrie Stakes.

Chris Lomon, Woodbine