TORONTO, May 29, 2025– Metaphysical, a daughter of American Freedom out of the Haynesfield mare Another Ghazo, takes to the E.P. Taylor turf for Saturday’s $150,000 HPIbet Royal North Stakes (G3T), for fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up. Set for 6 ½ furlongs, the Royal North – Woodbine’s first turf stakes race of the season – has drawn 10 starters, including Metaphysical, who will contest her eighth career Grade 3 engagement – and fifth in her past six starts. Trained by Tony Gattellaro for owner John Ryan, Metaphysical arrives at the Royal North off an impressive 5 ¼-length score in a 6 ½-furlong main track allowance optional claiming race on December 14 at Woodbine. “I was very happy to see that performance,” said Gattellaro. “We were waiting for her to do that. She was in a good spot, and she showed us who we think she is. We knew we had that condition, and it was beneficial for us and the horse to have that when you do need a confidence-boosting race.” Metaphysical and jockey Ryan Munger winning Race 3 on December 14, 2024 (Michael Burns Photo) The Royal North will mark the seventh time Metaphysical has taken to the turf. In six previous starts, she has posted a trio of thirds, including the Penn Oaks on June 2, 2023. Her most recent turf test came in the 2023 Tepin Stakes, a fourth-place finish over one mile of good ground at Ellis Park. Gattelaro is looking forward to her return to the green scene. “She has run against some very tough horses on the turf in the U.S. when she was a 3-year-old. We have always wanted to get her back on the turf here. It was just timing last year – it didn’t work out to do that. I do think in watching her replays that she does stride out the best on the turf, of all the three surfaces she has tried.” Bred in Kentucky by Brereton Jones, Metaphysical made her Woodbine debut a winning one last May, a 1 ¼-length triumph over 7 furlongs on the main track. Her career bow came on August 6, 2022, at Horseshoe Indianapolis, where she finished fourth. A fifth at Kentucky Downs was followed by a fourth and a sixth, respectively, at Churchill Downs that October. Methaphysical’s maiden score came in her fifth start when she notched a half-length win at 1 /16 miles over the Gulfstream all-weather track on Boxing Day 2022. The 5-year-old chestnut has produced a mark of 3-4-0, to go along with $315,400 (USD) in purse earnings, from 19 races. “She’s doing fantastic right now. She wintered in King City (just north of Woodbine). She has come back looking phenomenal. Her coat is shining. “Her breeze last week (5 furlongs on the dirt training track in :59.00, on May 21) was the best work she has had with us. On race day, she comes in on her toes, kind of like a boxer coming into their match. We’re looking forward to seeing her take on some top horses. We feel she definitely belongs here.” Metaphysical was purchased by Ryan for $240,000 (USD) at the 2023 Keeneland Association November Breeding Stock Sale. Alexa Wisnoski is the groom. Other starters include multiple stakes winner Toupie, trained by Graham Motion, and Whimsical Stakes (G3) winner Earhart (FR). Blushing Katy, under Gunnar Lindberg, won the inaugural running in 1989. Last year, Play the Music, trained by Mark Casse and ridden by Patrick Husbands, took top prize in the Royal North. The race is named after the daughter of Reviewer out of the Titan mare Repercussion. Over 18 races, Royal North, trained by Gil Rowntree and bred by Marvin L. Warner, went 14-3-1. She won seven straight races from August 27, 1978, to May 20, 1979. The Royal North is listed as Race 8 on the 11-race card, with a first post of 1:05 p.m. The wagering menu for the race includes Rolling Double, Exacta, 0.20 Trifecta, 0.20 Superfecta, 0.20 Pick 3 (8-9-10), 0.20 Pick 4 (8-9-10-11) and $1 Swinger. Fans can wager on all the action through HPIbet.com and bet365.com. Field for the Grade 3 $150,000 Royal North Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer 1 – Metaphysical – Sofia Vives – Tony Gattellaro 2 – Toupie – Manuel Franco – Graham Motion 3 – Freedom Speaks – Fraser Aebly – Heather Smullen 4 – Dancing Duchess – Sahin Civaci – Mark Casse 5 – Ready to Jam – Pietro Moran – Mark Casse 6 – Ticker Tape Home – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse 7 – Ms. Tart – Huber Villa-Gomez – Kevin Rice 8 – Earhart (FR) – Rafael Hernandez – Josie Carroll 9 – Weehawken – Eswan Flores – Saffie Joseph, Jr. 10 – Gal in a Rush – Ryan Munger – Miguel Clement Chris Lomon, Woodbine Share This:Share
