Sunday Finery: Mint in the Mazarine ​

TORONTO, November 1, 2026 – The rapidly improving Sunday Finery won her second consecutive route race, while earning her first black type win, capturing the Grade 3 Mazarine Stakes ($175,000), presented by Seedlip, Sunday at Woodbine.

Ridden by Sahin Civaci for the second straight engagement, the dark bay, brown filly broke smoothly from post position four, as the field of five embarked on their 1 1/16 mile main track journey in the graded event for two-year-old fillies. ​ ​ ​

First time under the wire, Civaci eased the daughter of Mystic Guide into fifth position, while angling her to the rail into the clubhouse turn. Mrs D showed the way, with Mo Cookie shading her. ​ Epic Affair was a close third. ​ ​ Homeawayfromhome and Sunday Finery completed the early running order through an opening two furlongs in :23.66. ​

Up the backstretch, Mrs D, under increased pressure from Mo Cookie, continued to lead through an opening half mile in :48.36. ​ Into the far turn, Mrs D shook clear of that nemesis, as Epic Affair quickened sharply inside of a tiring Mo Cookie, while angling outside to challenge the leader through three quarters in 1:12.60. ​ ​ ​

Meanwhile, Sunday Finery was winding up and moved into third position as the top three hit the head of the lane. ​ ​ Outside the eighth pole, the James Begg-trained Sunday Finery exploded splendidly up the rail, powering home to score by 6 3/4 lengths in a final time of 1:44.29. ​ ​

Bred in Ontario by Bernard and Karen McCormack, Sunday Finery was the only filly in the Mazarine with two turn experience on the Woodbine all weather surface, having run off the screen to break her maiden by 13 1/2 lengths on September 26th. ​ ​ ​ ​

“We always kind of thought she was a two-turn horse,” said Begg. “When she was showing up in her earlier races, we were happy because we always felt like there was, it was kind of the next level would be going further, with her breeding and everything and also just the way she looked and trained.” ​

Owned by Walmac Farm, Jeff Begg, Annabel Begg, Eric Long and Bart Siegel, Sunday Finery was making her fifth career start in the Mazarine after the smashing triumph previously when making her route debut. ​ ​

Her conditioner said the 1 1/16 mile Princess Elizabeth Stakes (November 28th) could be next on the filly’s schedule. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

“As long as everything comes out right that’s kind of how we had planned that initially because we were looking at that race and we kind of saw that timing on this race kind of set up okay for that race so that was kind of the that’s always kind of been the goal for the end of the season with her.”

With the Mazarine win, Sunday Finery (Mystic Guide – Aunty Mo, by Uncle Mo) improved to 2-1-1 from five career starts, while remaining undefeated at the distance. ​ ​ ​ The winner opened at 6-1 morning line, went to post at 7-2 and returned $9.20 for the win. ​ ​ ​ Mrs D was second, followed by Epic Affair, Mo Cookie and Homeawayfromhome.

Phil McSween for Woodbine Communications