De la Renta remains perfect in Soaring Free

TORONTO, August 15, 2026 – Undefeated De la Renta overcame an eventful stretch run to defeat males and win the $150,000 bet365 Soaring Free Stakes at Woodbine.

Ridden for the first time by Fraser Aebly, the daughter of multiple Grade 1 winner Oscar Performance broke cleanly from post position 7, as the field of 6 (with 2 scratches) were sent on their way in the six and half furlong sprint for two-year-olds, over Woodbine’s vaunted E.P. Taylor Turf Course.

After a spirited multi-horse battle for the early lead, De la Renta settled in 5^th, through an opening quarter mile in :21.92. ​ ​ Humble and Kind, one of three fillies in the race showed the way around the sweeping far turn with another filly Through the Years (IRE) running 2nd, through an opening half mile in :45.12.

First time starter Speaker’s Speech trailed the field early, but launched a five rally around the bend, taking over the lead just inside the quarter-pole. ​ ​ De la Renta raced just inside of Speaker’s Speech while launching her bid in the 4-path, her head cocked slightly toward the grandstand. ​ ​ ​

Aebly then swung his filly out and took aim at Speaker’s Speech, who had taken a clear lead inside the 1/8th pole.

The Mark Casse trained Speaker’s Speech, an $875,000 purchase at the Ocala Breeders Spring Sale of 2-year-olds, angled to the rail in deep stretch, leading through three-quarters in 1:10.18. De la Renta, now finding her best, was closing with every stride and despite ducking in slightly inside the 1/16th pole, pulled even in the final strides and nailed Speaker’s Speech in a photo on the wire. The final time on a course listed ‘firm’ was 1:17.19. ​

De la Renta won at first asking in a six-furlong Woodbine maiden special weight race on July 19th. ​ ​ In that race, she set a relaxed pace under John Velazquez and scored by an impressive 3 and 1/4 lengths, while earning a 79 Beyer Speed Figure. ​ ​ With Velazquez riding Through the Years in this engagement, Aebly got the call in the Soaring Free.

Afterward, Aebly was impressed with the winner’s versatility.

“She kind of shows a lot of signs of being a good horse, she kind of fell off the bridle for me, kind of relaxed early,” said Aebly. ​ ​

“Around the three and half, three furlong pole, she started to pick it up when everybody kind of started to make their move and I could kind of ease her into making her move

“She got a little green about the 1/8th pole, she started looking at the crowd with me but she still got up in time and that’s all that matters.”

Bred in Kentucky by Nancy S. Dillman and owned by X-Men Racing VI LLC and Madaket Stable, De la Renta (by 2018 Woodbine Mile winning Oscar Performance) passed her turf test well and will likely target Woodbine’s premier 2-year-old filly turf race in a month’s time. ​ ​

“Long term goal is the Natalma so we were pretty confident,” said Attard.

“It’s a lot to ask, they’ve never been that close to the crowd. It’s new territory for them all. ​ She’s just a little greenish, she’ll get over that, she’ll mature over time.” ​

“She carried herself really well in the paddock, I was really happy with her. She got a little nervous the first time. Today she was a lot more composed.” ​

De la Renta (Oscar Performance – Zza Zza Zoom, by Uncle Mo) improved to 2-0-0 from two career starts. She was 5-2 on the morning line, went off at 1.80 to 1 and returned $5.60 for the Soaring Free score. ​

Speaker’s Speech was 2nd, fellow Attard trainee Quipster was 2nd and Humble and Kind was 4th. Uncle Kef and Mrs D were scratched by the stewards. ​ ​

Phil McSween, Woodbine