Il Malocchio Seeks to Continue Run of Success in Matron

In a crowded field of 12 fillies and mares 3 and up in the Oct. 14 Ontario Matron Stakes (G3), the most successful in that dozen is Il Malocchio , who looks to put forth another strong effort.

The daughter of Souper Speedy has finished off the board just twice in the last 24 months.

Franco Meli’s homebred is comfortable at the 1 1/16-mile distance the $150,000 all-weather track contest offers. She’s made half of her 24 starts running that far with three wins, three seconds, and a third in those contests. She’s also a fan of Woodbine, having run 14 times at the Ontario track.

She’ll be looking to add to her graded stakes resume after winning the Trillium Stakes (G3) July 23. Last time out, she finished third in the Seaway Stakes (G3).

In what seems odd for this late in the year, more than half the field—seven—are lightly raced this season. None of those seven have raced more than three times in 2023. Devil’s Bit , Saratoga Vision , Souper Hoity Toity , Mouffy , and Ephrata have three starts; Strega and Angelou have two.

The Matron is also a reunion of four of the Trillium contenders as Il Malocchio, Souper Hoity Toity (second), Angelou (third), and Saratoga Vision (sixth) will come together again.

Another contender, Millie Girl , has done well in her eight career starts as she attempts to record her first graded stakes victory. With a 3-2-3 mark from eight starts, the daughter of Hard Spun has a knack for being in the mix. But her two previous starts at the distance have yet to produce a win. Both were allowance optional claiming races at Woodbine last year.

She’s run in graded company her last three times out with a second in the Seaway (G3) and third in the Nassau Stakes (G2) and Royal North Stakes (G2).

FASHION STATEMENT

Last year’s Sovereign Award winner for champion female sprinter, Hazelbrook , returns to the $150,000 Ontario Fashion Stakes (G3).

The six-furlong Fashion Stakes also represents the last time the daughter of Bayern won. It will likely be her last opportunity to win as she is expected to enter the Keeneland November Sale.

“We have her in the sale there, so this is probably her last race. It’s been a tough journey for her. She’s been a nice horse and none of those issues were her fault. You feel bad she’s had to go through all that. I like her,” said trainer Lorne Richards, noting the digestive issues the mare has faced in her career.

Hazelbrook is not the only Sovereign winner in the field. The 2020 champion female sprinter Artie’s Princess will vie to get across the wire first. Like Hazelbrook, she’s facing a dry spell, having posted two sixths, a seventh, and an eighth since winning the Presque Isle Downs Master Stakes (G2) last year.

Also in the field are Ready To Venture , who tries for back-to-back wins after taking the Seaway last month; Florida-bred Loyalty , who after winning the Hendrie Stakes (G3) finished fourth in this year’s Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes; and Our Flash Drive , who has seven consecutive graded stakes on her resume but has lost the last two after winning three.