TORONTO, June 26, 2026 – A day after a stakes-packed Saturday card at Woodbine, the $100,000 Alywow Stakes for 3-year-old fillies is Sunday’s spotlight event at the Toronto track. The 6 ½ furlong event on the main Tapeta track, has attracted a field of 10, including Stroke of Genius, one of two horses in training under the tutelage of Shelley Fitzgerald. A chestnut daughter of Munnings out of the Galileo (IRE) mare Magic Of Reality (FR), Stroke of Genius has earned $42,580 lifetime in four starts. Fitzgerald said the “serious” filly has been pointed toward the Alywow. That plan included a five-furlong start on Woodbine’s inner turf in Stroke of Genius’ 2026 debut on June 6 in an Allowance Optional Claiming event in which she finished fifth. “That’s why we ran her in the five furlongs, because that’s not really her game, five furlongs,” Fitzgerald said. “The slightly longer distance is better, but we ran her in the five furlongs, first time out this year, because we wanted to get a race under her belt, and it was three weeks before the Alywow, so we thought it was a good setup for her. Bred in Kentucky by Sean Fitzhenry, Stroke of Genius was purchased by Marty Wickins for $80,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. “Marty tried to buy her dam the year before at Keeneland and got outbid,” Fitzgerald said. “I was down there with him, and he said, ‘My only chance to get into the family is next year. She has a Munnings filly going through.’ It was Stroke of Genius, and he bought her. So, he’d been thinking about her for a good year before he bought her.” What Wickins purchased was an “all business”, “headstrong” filly, said Fitzgerald. “She can’t wait to get to the racetrack,” the trainer said. “She’s tough. You have to hold her down on the ground. As soon as you start to get her ready, that’s it, she’s like, ‘Let’s go.’ She is very enthusiastic about her training. She looks like a monster out on the racetrack, very eye-catching.” Fitzgerald said the mission, for now, is a strong performance in the Alywow. Stroke of Genius will be ridden by Eswan Flores. “[The Alywow] was kind of a goal, right from the start,” Fitzgerald said. “Marty would love to get her stakes placed, at least. With only two horses in her barn, Fitzgerald doubles as the filly’s groom. She gave high praise to Stroke of Genius’ exercise rider Ruben Peralta, who gave high praise to the filly. “[Peralta has] ridden a lot of horses and he loves her,” Fitzgerald said. Stroke of Genius winning on October 18, 2025 at Woodbine. (Michael Burns Photo) Fast Facts: The Alywow is named for the Hall of Fame mare and 1994 Canadian Horse of the Year bred and owned by Kinghaven Farms and trained by Hall of Famer Roger Attfield. Lush Soldier won the inaugural running of the Alywow in 2002. Love Cervere won last year’s edition. Hall of Famer Mark Casse leads all trainers with four victories in the Alywow – 2018 (Road to Victory), 2015 (Mississippi Delta), 2012 (Dene Court) and 2007 (Silky Smooth) Wagering menu for the Alywow: Includes Rolling Double / Exacta / 0.20 Trifecta / 0.20 Superfecta / $1 Swinger. Need to know: First race post time on Sunday is 1:00 p.m. Fans can wager on all the action through HPIbet.com. Field for the $100,000 Alywow Stakes Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer 1 – Mony Mony – Sofia Vives – Joe Sharp 2 – So Kate – Ryan Munger – Josie Carroll 3 – Wooten Warrior (IRE) – Pietro Moran – Kevin Attard 4 – Stroke of Genius – Eswan Flores – Shelley Fitzgerald 5 – Happy Destination (S) – Sahin Civaci – Mark Casse 6 – Slippers – Romero Maragh – Mark Casse 7 – Kingsolver – Fraser Aebly – R Brisset 8 – Meilani – Kazushi Kimura – Kevin Attard 9 – Flowerhead (IRE) – Rafael Hernandez – Charlie Clover 10 – Angel’s Prospect – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Todd Kettleson Dave Briggs for Woodbine Share This:Share
