TORONTO, April 23, 2025 – The $125,000 Star Shoot Stakes is the feature race on Saturday’s opening day card of the 2025 Woodbine Thoroughbred season. The 6-furlong Star Shoot, for 3-year-old fillies, has traditionally been a key prep for the Woodbine Oaks Presented by Stella Artois. The first leg of the prestigious Canadian Triple Tiara series will be run on July 20. Trainer Kelsey Danner will have two of the six hopefuls vying for top prize in this year’s running of the Star Shoot. Brindi (IRE), a daughter of No Nay Never out of the Shamardal mare Salamah (IRE), will be making her first start at Woodbine. Owned by Robert M. Evans, the chestnut filly has won twice and posted a third in six starts. The Star Shoot will be her fourth start of the season. She comes into the race off a trio of races on the Tapeta at Turfway Park, including her most recent effort, a fourth in the 6-furlong Serena’s Song Stakes on March 29. She has been in the Danner barn since this past November. “We bought her out of the [Keeneland Association Horses of Racing Age] sale last fall,” said Danner, of the $75,000 (USD) purchase. “She is a nice filly and has a great temperament. We liked her a lot from the start.” Brindi at Turfway Park on January 17, 2025 (Photo by Coady Media) Brindi (IRE) debuted with a pair of 5 ½-furlong races over the Saratoga turf last summer, which produced a third and fourth. She broke her maiden in her third start, at Delaware Park, in an ‘about’ 5-furlong turf sprint, as the 2-5 choice. She followed up that victory with another win, this time with Danner as the trainer, in her 3-year-old debut at Turfway Park on January 17. She bested eight rivals in a 6 ½-furlong race. “That was a great effort, very professional and very confident,” said Danner, of the filly who was then seventh in the Valdale Stakes at Turfway in February. “She came back in the Valdale and did not fire at all – no excuses.” Danner was encouraged by the effort in her most recent start. “She showed a lot more heart in the Serena’s Song. She was in between horses, and I don’t think she really loves that. I felt she improved. She has natural speed, she’s doing well, and I think she likes the distance, so we will see.” Sofia Vives, a finalist for the 2024 Sovereign Award as Canada’s champion apprentice rider, gets the call aboard the filly bred by Framont Ltd. NBS Stable’s Listen and Learn also made her three most recent starts at Turfway. A daughter of Caracaro out of the Harlan’s Holiday mare Longride to Wisdom, the bay heads into her first Canadian start off a maiden-breaking score. On March 22, under Adam Beschizza, Listen and Learn made a sharp move into the turn to take over in the stretch en route to a decisive 3 ¾-length win at 6 furlongs on the synthetic. “She finished second in her first race on the Tapeta, in January, which was also at six furlongs. I thought she raced very well in that one and she was very good in her maiden win, too.” A disastrous start over the Tapeta on March 6 led to a disappointing sixth-place result as the mutuel choice, nearly 10 lengths behind the winner. “She reared up, broke really bad and almost dropped Adam at the gate,” noted Danner. “The kickback was bad that night and she was just getting pounded, so we threw a line through that one. It was nice to see her come back with such a strong effort when she won last time out. She’s a nice filly and I think she is going to build off that.” Danner lauded the versatility of her young runner, bred in Kentucky by Moreau Bloodstock International, Inc., who finished ninth in her career bow at Churchill Downs on December 1. “She can come from off the pace or near the lead, which is nice to have.” Rafael Hernandez, a finalist for the 2024 Sovereign Award as Canada’s champion rider, gets the call. Named for Star Shoot, sire of Sir Barton, the race was first run in 1956 at Greenwood, with Orchestra winning the inaugural edition. Sabatini, under Sofia Vives, won last year’s running. Jockey Luis Contreras won three straight editions (2015-17) with Ancient Goddess, Treasuring, and R Naja. The Star Shoot is Race 8 on Saturday’s 9-race card. The wagering menu for the race includes Rolling Double, Exacta, 0.20 Trifecta, 0.20 Superfecta and $1 Swinger. First post time is 1:05 p.m. Fans can watch and wager on all the action through HPIbet.com and bet365.com. Field for the $125,000 Star Shoot Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer 1 – Brindi (IRE) – Sofia Vives – Kelsey Danner 2 – Salt – Pietro Moran – Brendan Walsh 3 – Winterberry – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse 4 – Social Code – Jason Hoyte – Steven Flint 5 – Listen and Learn – Rafael Hernandez – Kelsey Danner 6 – Charlotte’s Heart – Sahin Civaci – Mark Casse Chris Lomon, Woodbine Share This:Share
