TORONTO, May 31, 2025 – Cailtinhergrtness, named after WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark, was much the best in the $150,000 Belle Mahone Stakes (G3), Saturday at Woodbine. Sent off as the 2-1 choice, the daughter of Omaha Beach out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Belatrix was making her 4-year-old debut in the 1 1/16-mile main race for fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up. Last year’s King’s Plate winner and Canada’s 3-Year-Old Female champion showed she hadn’t missed a beat. Caitlinhergrtness and jockey Rafael Hernandez winning the Belle Mahone Stakes (G3) on May 31, 2025 at Woodbine (Michael Burns Photo) For Flying (BRZ) came out of the gates running and tussled with Dana’s Beauty for early control, with the former gaining the upper hand to take a head lead through an opening quarter in :24.17, while Rafael Hernandez positioned Caitlinhergrtness in third. It was For Flying (BRZ), pressed by Dana’s Beauty, still in front by a head after a half in :47.56, as Hernandez continued to patiently watch the proceedings from in third, waiting for the moment to pounce on the pacesetters. That moment came when she split rivals past the quarter pole. With less than 220 yards to go, the race was for second. Caitlinhergrtness crossed the wire a five-length winner in a time of 1:42.26. For Flying (BRZ) dug in to secure the runner-up prize, a neck in front of Ready for Shirl. Literate was a further head back in fourth. Caitlinhergrtness and jockey Rafael Hernandez winning the Belle Mahone Stakes (G3) on May 31, 2025 at Woodbine (Michael Burns Photo) “I was just trying to get her to relax,” said Hernandez. “She’s been working really hard, and I just want to get her back on her feet and relax good. And I know when she is able to do that, when I put her in the clear, she’s going to explode like she did today. She’s been working amazing, and everything paid off today.” Kevin Attard, who celebrated his first Sovereign Award as Canada’s champion trainer in 2024, was equally effusive in his praise of the WinStar Farm LLC chestnut filly, who earned her first graded stakes crown. “I was a little more nervous with her, just because she had been working so fast, and we were making a conscious effort trying to slow her down in the mornings. She came into us early in the year from WinStar, just looking like a different animal. She matured so much, she filled out, she grew and, you know, it all transpired onto the racetrack. “She was just working that much faster and just doing everything so easy, but the times were quick, and I was worried she might be a little rank, but the race set up perfectly. Raffi did a good job with her, and she showed why she’s a champion.” Bred in Ontario by Jesse Korona, Caitlinhergrtness ($6.30) is now 4-1-2 from 10 lifetime starts. Chris Lomon, Woodbine Share This:Share
