TORONTO, May 29, 2025– Multiple graded stakes winning trainer Kevin Attard sends out the Canadian champion duo of Caitlinhergrtness and Fashionably Fab in Saturday’s $150,000 Belle Mahone Stakes (G3), at Woodbine. Attard, who earned his first Sovereign Award as the country’s champion trainer of 2024, will be represented in the 1 1/16-mile main track Belle Mahone, for fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up, by last year’s King’s Plate winner and 3-Year-Old Female champion Caitlinhergrtness, and Older Main Track Female victress Fashionably Fab, who took last year’s running of the Belle Mahone. “We’re very blessed to have these two in the barn,” said Attard. “Great owners for both make it that much more special.” Named for WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark, 4-year-old Caitlinhergrtness has lived up to her namesake. Owned by WinStar Farm LLC, the daughter of Omaha Beach out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Belatrix launched her career in the U.S., where she made four starts. After a third at Saratoga in her debut, she broke her maiden next time out at Belmont. She closed out her 2-year-old campaign with a fourth in the Tempted Stakes at Aqueduct and opened her 3-year-old season with a fourth at Gulfstream before bringing her talents north to Woodbine. Bred by Jesse Korona, Caitlinhergrtness was second in last year’s Woodbine Oaks before going to beat the boys in the 165th running of The King’s Plate. She closed out her 3-year-old season with a third in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland in October, and a fourth in the Valedictory Stakes, at Woodbine, on November 9. The Belle Mahone marks her 4-year-old debut. “Obviously, it was a great year for Caitlin,” praised Attard, of the filly whose lifetime purse earnings stand at $693,812 (USD). “She’s as genuine as they come and full of heart.” That was on full display in the King’s Plate. Rafael Hernandez, who will be aboard in the Belle Mahone, guided the chestnut filly to a three-quarter length score in the $1 million classic. Caitlinhergrtness and jockey Rafael Hernandez winning the 165th King’s Plate on August 23, 2024 at Woodbine (Michael Burns Photo) “She was relentless on Plate day,” recalled Attard. “You could see it in her demeanor before the race – that she was ready for the challenge. Lots of great memories from that day. Those are the moments that truly define what a team effort is.” Caitlinhergrtness has had a steady work tab heading into her latest test, including a four-furlong breeze over the Woodbine main track in :47.00 – the fastest of 105 works at the distance – on May 24. “She’s doing amazing,” said Attard. “She had a good winter after a demanding year – she deserved every minute of that rest. She came back looking great. The only thing that didn’t change was that competitive fire in her eyes.” Troy Garnett is the groom. Attard has an equally spirited and accomplished contender in Fashionably Fab. The now 5-year-old dark bay capped off her 2024 season with a gutsy nose score in the La Prevoyante Stakes, on December 14. Fashionably Fab and jockey David Moran winning the La Prevoyante Stakes on December 14, 2024 at Woodbine (Michael Burns Photo) It was the 10th win, to go along with three thirds, from 17 lifetime starts, for Fashionably Fab, whose success also includes a victory in last year’s Grade 3 Ontario Matron Stakes She won five straight races, all stakes, from September 12, 2023, to June 1, 2024. “Fashionably Fab – what can you say?” said Attard, of the Terra Racing homebred. “She is the definition of a racehorse. Her record speaks for itself, but beyond those stats, she is as gritty and tough as they come.” A daughter of Silent Name (JPN) out of the Curlin mare Flashy’s Legacy, Fashionably Fab debuted with a third in September 2022 and then won her next three starts, including the Shady Well Stakes that December. “She has given us unlimited highlights over her career,” said Attard. “She’s always been a horse you never count out but that you can always count on.” The lifetime earner of $537,572 (USD) will also make her seasonal debut in the Belle Mahone. Fashionably Fab has had four breezes in May, the most recent at four furlongs in :48.60 over the Woodbine main track on Saturday. “She had a good winter too,” said Attard. “Like Caitlin, we’re very happy with how she is working heading into the race. She has that game face on already.” Pietro Moran, Woodbine’s leading jockey in 2025, will ride. Beresford Lee is the groom. Other starters include multiple stakes winner Dana’s Beauty, For Flying (BRZ), who won the 2023 Barao de Piracicaba (G1) in her native Brazil, and Kin’s Concerto, last year’s Woodbine Oaks winner. On May 19, 1917, Belle Mahone, ridden by Frank Robinson, won the 59th running of the King’s Plate by a length. The daughter of Ypsilanti, who was coupled with Galley Head in the Plate, paid $2.80 for the win. The Belle Mahone is listed as Race 10 on the 11-race card, with a first post of 1:05 p.m. The wagering menu for the race includes Rolling Double, Exacta, 0.20 Trifecta, 0.20 Superfecta and $1 Swinger. Fans can wager on all the action through HPIbet.com and bet365.com. Field for the Grade 3 $150,000 Belle Mahone Stakes Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer 1 – Dana’s Beauty – Patrick Husbands – Michael Maker 2 – Caitlinhergrtness – Rafael Hernandez – Kevin Attard 3 – Fortyfiveseventy – Daisuke Fukumoto – Barbara Minshall 4 – Literate – Sahin Civaci – Marty Drexler 5 – Kin’s Concerto – Sofia Vives – Josie Carroll 6 – Ready for Shirl – Fraser Aebly – Roger Attfield 7 – For Flying (BRZ) – Manuel Franco – Graham Motion 8 – Freedom Speaks – Jose Campos – Heather Smullen 9 – Fashionably Fab – Pietro Moran – Kevin Attard Chris Lomon, Woodbine Share This:Share
