Sweater Weather in Woodbine’s Sunday forecast?

​TORONTO, September 21 – Defending champion Sweater Weather headlines Sunday’s $125,000 Classy ‘n Smart Stakes at Woodbine Racetrack despite the summer-like forecast for the first fall weekend.

Sweater Weather will be looking to complete an encore performance of back-to-back stakes wins in the Algoma and Classy ‘n Smart for trainer Robert Tiller and owner Frank Di Giulio Jr., who have teamed up for four prior victories in this Ontario Sires Stakes restricted to fillies and mares three years old and up. Prior to Sweater Weather’s victory in the 2016 edition of the 1-1/16 mile event, the longtime partners won the Classy ‘n Smart Stakes three years in a row from 2002 to 2004 with their wonderful homebred mare Brass in Pocket, a career earner of more than $1.1 million.

Last time out on Canadian Millions Night, Sweater Weather picked off rivals in the final turn and sprinted clear down the stretch to defend her Algoma title.

“We pointed her for that race,” said Tiller. “I was kind of disappointed in a couple races this year, but she’s getting back to herself right now and getting herself geared up again. She got the job done and obviously we were very happy with her last performance.”

In preparation for the Classy ’n Smart, Sweater Weather breezed five furlongs in 1:05 on the all-weather track one week ago.

“She’s probably going to have to run back to her last race or even better because there’s a couple in there that weren’t in her last race that will be tough,” said Tiller. “But she’s doing extremely well and we’re very pleased with her.”

The daughter of Milwaukee Brew and Susur has hit the board in 16 of 25 starts, including seven wins, and boasts more than $536,000 in career earnings. Sweater Weather will be looking to put some finishing touches on her resume as Tiller indicated a new career for the six-year-old mare is on the horizon.

“She’s a pretty stable filly to train, better than most. She just goes out there and does her thing. She’s not too quirky, which is a rarity with horses. She’s a real lady,” said the Canadian Hall of Fame trainer. “This will probably be one of her last races. I think she’ll be a broodmare next year so we’re looking forward to it.”

Scheduled as the eighth race, the $125,000 Classy ‘n Smart Stakes is the feature race on Sunday’s program, which begins at 1 p.m. Eurico Rosa Da Silva will ride Sweater Weather, who has drawn post seven in the nine-horse field.

$125,000 Classy ‘n Smart Stakes
PP – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1. West L. A. Girl – Jesse Campbell – Mark Casse
2. Generous Touch – Gary Boulanger – Sid Attard
3. Crumlin Spirit – David Moran – Michael Doyle
4. Niigon’s Bay – Patrick Husbands – Rachel Halden
5. Sparkles’ Girl – Emma-Jayne Wilson – John Charalambous
6. Internal Bourbon – Alan Garcia – Roger Attfield
7. Sweater Weather – Eurico Rosa Da Silva – Robert Tiller
8. Hot Kiss – Rafael Hernandez – Michael De Paulo
9. Trini Brewnette – Luis Contreras – Kevin Attard