Thorn in their side: Olivia Rose rolls to easy Ballade score

TORONTO, July 13, 2025 – Olivia Rose earned her fourth career stakes crown after dominating the $100,000 Ballade, Sunday at Woodbine.

Sent off as the 2-1 second choice in the six-furlong race for Ontario-sired fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up, Olivia Rose, under Rafael Hernandez, glided to the front while 4-5 Little Teddy, riding a two-race win streak, settled into second through an opening quarter in :22.95.

Olivia Rose was a half-length clear of mutuel choice Little Teddy after a half in :45.53, with the pacesetter looking confident and in control as she rounded the turn for home.

At the head of the lane, the daughter of Silent Name (JPN) out of the Malibu Moon mare Malibu Sunrise kicked away from her pursuers, holding a two-length advantage at Robert Geller’s stretch call. At the wire, she was 7 ½ lengths the best.

Little Teddy was second, 1 ½ lengths ahead of Talk to Ya Later. Taquanyah and Silent Sky rounded out the order of finish.

“I like her,” said Hernandez, who swept all three Woodbine weekend stakes, taking the Victoria Stakes with Casson, and the My Dear with Border Czar, both on Saturday. “We wanted to make sure we broke on top and get the pace.

“I know he (Austin Adams, aboard Little Teddy) was next to me all the way. I wanted to just get the jump before he was coming and getting closer to me.”

Bred and owned by Gabe Grossberg, Olivia Rose arrived at the Ballade off a third-place finish over 5 ½ furlongs on the Toronto oval’s main track on May 3, in her seasonal debut.

The 4-year-old, trained by Mark Casse, won the 2023 running of the South Ocean Stakes, and last year’s editions of the Fury Stakes and Thunder Bay Stakes.

With the victory, Olivia Rose is now 5-4-1 from 14 starts. She broke her maiden in her third career start, on August 26, 2023, a 13 ¾-length stunner over 6 ½ furlongs on the Woodbine main track.

She paid $6.20 for the Ballade win.

Chris Lomon, Woodbine