TORONTO, June 1, 2024 – Play the Music made it two straight graded stakes scores after taking the $135,000 HPIbet Royal North (G3T) Stakes, on Saturday afternoon at Woodbine. Miss Speedy, a stablemate of Play the Music, lived up to her name as the 6-year-old daughter of Souper Speedy zipped to the lead in the 6 ½-furlong engagement for fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up, over a “firm” EP. Taylor Turf, as Howboutdemapples and Play the Music settled into second and third, respectively. Ahead by a half-length after a quarter in :22.99, Miss Speedy was a head in front of Howboutdemapples through a half in: 45.75, as Patrick Husbands and Play the Music watched the proceedings from in fourth. Miss Speedy looked to pull away from her pursuers in early stretch, but Play the Music powered by to take command and crossed the wire a comfortable 2 ¼-length winner in a time of 1:14.85. Secret Money finished second but was disqualified and placed seventh. Miss Speedy was elevated to second and Dolce Sopresa to third. Play the Music and jockey Patrick Husbands winning the HPIbet Royal North Stakes (G3T) at Woodbine on June 1, 2024 (Michael Burns Photo) “She broke smart and she relaxed,” said Husbands. “I mean, I was just a passenger. As we swung for home, I was just trying to figure out if Sahin (jockey, Civaci, aboard Miss Speedy) was going to come in or go out. I just gave him about four or five strides and he stayed straight, so I took the shortest way home.” Trained by dual Hall of Famer Mark Casse, the 4-year-old daughter of Mo Town-Hey Little Sister came into the Royal North off a superlative 4 ¼-length score in the six-furlong, main track Whimsical Stakes (G3) on May 4. With today’s win, the bay, owned by Glassman Racing LLC, is 6-1-3 from 13 starts. She finished ninth in her debut, the Glorious Song Stakes, at Woodbine, on November 5, 2022. Her first stakes success came in the Leinster Lightning City Stakes (Black Type) at Tampa this February. Play the Music paid $6 for today’s win. Bred in Kentucky by Laura McKinney, she was a $300,000 2-year-old purchase. Chris Lomon, Woodbine Communications Share This:Share
