Carlisle Bay looks to show the way in My Dear

TORONTO, July 10, 2024 – Hoolie Racing Stable rookie Carlisle Bay, trained by Barbara Minshall, will contest her first stakes event when she goes postward in Saturday’s $125,000 My Dear at Woodbine.

Bred in Kentucky by Hunter Valley Farm, Richie Galway, and Frank Hutchinson & Lynch Badges LTD, Carlisle Bay comes into the 5 ½-furlong feature for 2-year-old fillies off an impressive 4 ½-length score in her maiden voyage on May 26 at Woodbine.

Under Emma-Jayne Wilson, the dark bay led gate-to-wire as the even-money choice to capture the condensed five-furlong main track dash in a time of :58.50.

“It was a small field but she’s a nice filly,” said Minshall of Carlisle Bay’s effort in the four-horse affair. “She’s very well-bred and has all the right stuff about her. She’s got a very good mind and is just a nice filly to work with overall.”

Minshall was particularly impressed with the poise shown by the daughter of Speightstown–Bicolour leading into her first professional bout.

“She’s very professional about it. Right from the paddock to the gate, she did everything very professionally. Like I said, it was a small field, but nothing seems to really phase her.

“Knowing her, I expected a good performance. I liked her a lot going in and thought she was ready to run a nice race.”

The Sovereign Award-winning conditioner is, once again, pleased with Carlisle Bay’s standing ahead of the My Dear.

“She’s in good form,” said Minshall. “I’ve given her a couple of easy breezes leading up to it. I wish it could be a little longer. I think she wants to go further but she’s doing well.”

Minshall and Hoolie Racing Stable teamed with Dream It Is to win the 2017 running of the My Dear.

Among the competitors Minshall’s protégé will meet for the first time is Bound to Be True, another 2-year-old filly who scored in her maiden debut on June 8 at Woodbine.

Unlike Carlisle Bay, however, the Hartwell Farm product closed as the board’s longest shot at 11-1.

The result, a 5 ½-length conquest in :58.84, even came as a surprise to her trainer Nathan Squires, who conditions the Kentucky-bred for owner Susan Lyons.

“I always knew she had ability, but I thought that she would like to go a bit further because she’s bred to go longer,” explained Squires. “She was ready early, but I wasn’t sure about five furlongs. Her workouts had been okay. She never gave me that ‘wow factor’ in the mornings.

“So, during the race, I was surprised that she showed she could turn like a bullet. She just exploded the last eighth-of-a-mile. It was a good race.”

David Moran, who piloted the Cairo Prince–Good To Know filly to victory, was equally surprised by her burst according to Squires.

“He was like me,” he said of Moran’s reaction to the stellar effort. “He was also surprised with the way she exploded because he worked most of her mornings and she never gave him that feeling. But this time, she just kept going.”

Squires added that since last month’s encouraging effort, Bound to Be True has made noticeable strides physically.

While her morning workouts still don’t jump off the page, Squires and Co. are more than happy with the on-track results.

“She’s just not a morning horse. She’s very laid back, very smart and sound.”

Devon Boreland is the groom.

Also on tap Saturday is the $100,000 Ballade Stakes, an Ontario-sired event for fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up, which has attracted nine starters.

First post is 1:05 p.m. Fans can wager on all the action through HPIbet.com and bet365.com.

Field for the $125,000 My Dear Stakes

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Soupergirl – Rafael Hernandez – Martin Drexler

2 – Lithica – Rosario Montanez – S. Matthew Kintz

3 – Willow Oak – Luis Contreras – Kelsey Danner

4 – Bound to Be True – David Moran – Nathan Squires

5 – Obliging – David Egan – Jorge Delgado

6 – You Need Me – Ryan Munger – Kelsey Danner

7 – Bullet – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

8 – Carlisle Bay – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Barbara Minshall

9 – Ambitious Lass – Sahin Civaci – Anthony Pottinger

Field for the $100,000 Ballade Stakes

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Veri Gizmo – Sofia Vives – Josie Carroll

2 – Lantana Lady – Patrick Husbands – Steve Attard

3 – Indian Music – Jose Campos – Michael Sims

4 – Pleasure’s Gold – Rafael Hernandez – Tino Attard

5 – Taquanyah – Leo Salles – Sal McHugh

6 – Foolish Games – Omar Moreno – Michelle Love

7 – Sacred Dancer – Justin Stein – Don Pleterski

8 – Talk to Ya Later (S) – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Ian Black

9 – Miss Speedy – Sahin Civaci – Mark Casse

Matthew Lomon, for Woodbine Communications