TORONTO, June 22, 2025 – The curtain raised on the Ontario Sired Heritage Series Sunday afternoon at Woodbine with a pair of $100,000 stakes, the Georgian Bay and Lake Huron. The five-furlong inner turf events are part of the Ontario Sired Heritage Series, an eight-leg stakes series open to Ontario-sired 3-year-olds, to be contested at Woodbine and Fort Erie racetracks. In the Georgian Bay, for 3-year-old fillies, Rhaenyra took top prize in frontrunning fashion. Rhaenyra, under Pietro Moran, got away a step slowly from the inside post, but soon found her stride and was hustled to the front, as 2-5 Executive Success shadowed in second, followed by Soupergirl, Su Legado Vive and Zippy Gamble through an opening panel in :21.54. As the field navigated the turn for home, Rhaenyra, still running comfortably on the lead, began to draw away from her pursuers. The dark bay, in complete control after a half in :44.06, was never threatened and crossed the wire a three-length winner. Su Legado Vive fended off an inside surge from Zippy Gamble for second spot. The final time was :56.82 over firm ground. Rhaenyra and jockey Pietro Moran winning the Georgian Bay Stakes on June 22, 2025 at Woodbine (Michael Burns Photo) “She was very game,” said Moran, of the filly who was making her turf and stakes debut. “She broke a step slow, but once she got going, she was really good. Around the turn she was just cruising, so I knew we had a good shot.” Trainer Kevin Attard, who finished first and third in the Georgian Bay, was pleased to see the Al and Bill Ulwelling homebred rebound off a fourth in a 5 ½-furlong main track event on May 22 at Woodbine. “We were obviously happy with the way she worked [ahead of the race] – very disappointed in her start previous,” said Attard. “We always thought of this filly in high regard. She always breezed like she had some talent, so it was nice to see her put it all together again today.” The addition of blinkers also made a difference, noted Attard. “It seems to keep her a little bit more focused and showing a little bit more speed.” Trainer Kevin Attard gives Rhaenyra a cool bath after victory in the Georgian Bay Stakes on June 22, 2025 at Woodbine (Michael Burns Photo) Rhaenyra launched her career on October 5, and finished third, a neck behind the winner, in a seven-furlong main track race. She completed her rookie campaign with a fifth, sixth and another third. Her breakthrough came in her 3-year-old debut, on April 27 at Woodbine. Sent on her way as the 7-5 choice in the five-furlong dash, Rhaenyra posted an authoritative 5 ¼-length score. A daughter of Reload out of the Star Guitar mare Starmaline, Rhaenyra is now 2-0-2 from 7 starts. She paid $18.20 for the Georgian Bay win. Chris Lomon, Woodbine Share This:Share
