TORONTO, November 21, 2025 – Ella It Is rallied impressively to take the $100,000 Ashbridges Bay Stakes, part of the Ontario Sired Heritage Series, on Friday at Woodbine. Sent off at 9-5, Ella It Is, with Pietro Moran aboard, broke well and settled in fourth, as Hint showed the way early in the 1 1/16-mile main track event for Ontario-sired 3-year-old fillies, reaching the opening quarter a half-length on top in a tepid :25.48. Hint, making her first stakes appearance, maintained her advantage along the backstretch, still tracked to her outside by Miss Pierre, while Brengungirl sat third, followed closely by Ella It Is. Ahead by a half-length through a half in :50.63, Hint found herself under pressure from Miss Pierre into the turn home, as Ella It Is, scraping the paint, waited for a seam and her cue from Moran. Hint was still calling the shots in upper stretch, but Ella It Is was guided to the two-path and began to reel in the determined frontrunner, before taking over the proceedings with 200 yards to the finish line. At the wire, Ella It Is posted a 1 ¼-length victory in a time of 1:47.01. Hint was 3 ¼ lengths clear of 33-1 Peace Posey for second. Juicy Hanna was a further 3 ¾ lengths back in fourth. Regal Moment was scratched. It was the first lifetime stakes triumph for the daughter of Point of Entry out of the Silent Name (JPN) mare Our Ella. Last year, the bay was second in both the Victorian Queen Stakes and South Ocean Stakes. “She’s pretty easy going,” said Moran, who posted the sixth stakes win of his impressive 2025 campaign. “She could do whatever you want. She won on the lead earlier this year with me, and off the pace now. So, she’s just a very easy-going horse, a sweetheart, very nice to ride. I was just sitting on a ton of horse, and she did the rest.” Trained by dual hall of famer Mark Casse, Ella It Is improved her record to 4-3-0 from 12 career starts. René and Darlene Hunderup (Heste Sport Inc.) bred and own Ella It Is, who debuted last July and finished seventh but rebounded with a smart two-length score in a 6 ½-furlong main track race, also at the Toronto oval, that was originally scheduled for the turf. She paid $5.90 for today’s win. Ella It Is and jockey Pietro Moran winning the Ashbridges Bay Stakes on November 21, 2025 at Woodbine (Michael Burns Photo) Established in 2021, the Ontario Sired Heritage Series is comprised of three $100,000 legs and a $100,000 final for two divisions: 3-year-old colts & geldings, and 3-year-old fillies. The total purse structure for the series is $800,000. There is also a total of $70,000 in bonus money for the Heritage Series, $35,000 for each division – awarded $20,000, $10,000, $5,000 for the top three point-earning colts/geldings and fillies. The final standings can be found here: tip.ontarioracing.com/tip-stakes-program/). Chris Lomon, Woodbine Share This:Share
