Just one day after their Canadian champion mare Moira likely capped her career with a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T), the partnership of X-Men Racing, Madaket Stables, and SF Racing were back in Woodbine‘s winner’s circle Nov. 3 with the 2-year-old filly Somethinabouther in the CA$138,740 Mazarine Stakes (G3).
The Brendan Walsh-trained daughter of Mendelssohn entered her Canadian debut off a dull ninth-place finish traveling 1 1/16 miles on turf in the Jessamine Stakes (G2T) at Keeneland Oct. 4.
Keeping the distance but switching to the synthetic surface was a difference maker as she pulled off the 15-1 upset, paying $33.70 for her victory.
“We’ve always liked her,” said winning jockey Declan Cannon. “She’s going to be a nice filly next year, she’s got the frame to grow into a nice horse.”
Favored Foxtastic set fractions of :24.01, :47.65, and 1:12.59 while Somethinabouther bided her time mid-pack. Cannon pushed the button at the 3/8ths pole and his filly rocketed up to second by the quarter pole.
Foxtastic proved a tough customer on the lead, but Somethinabouther was able to grind her down at the 16th pole and held off the late charge of 18-1 longshot As Catch Can to win by a neck in 1:45.00. Ready for Candy finished third as the leg-weary Foxtastic ended up fifth.
“That’s how I envisioned the race, that was the set-up I wanted,” Cannon said. “I knew I’d do my best work late. I just wanted to bide my time and let her find her rhythm. It worked out perfect.”
Unlike Ontario-bred Moira, this filly was bred in Kentucky by Stepaside Farm. She has earned $122,163 with two victories in five starts.
Video: Mazarine S. Presented by Ketel One (G3)
He’s Not Joking a Serious Winner of the Grey Stakes
It was also an upset in the other 1 1/16-mile graded event for 2-year-olds at Woodbine Sunday as 10-1 He’s Not Joking won the CA$143,370 Grey Stakes (G3) in impressive fashion.
Trained by Canadian Hall of Famer Josie Carroll, the son of Practical Joke gave owner Di Scola Boys Stable their first stakes winner.
“I have to give hats off to Josie on that,” said John Di Scola. “She thought he could get two turns. I was a kind of doubting her, but she was spot on. He showed up in a big way today to polish them all off.”
Settling second last early under jockey Kazushi Kimura, the bay colt made a strong move around the far turn into fractions of :23.76, :47.01, and 1:11.17, set by favored Shifty , a D J Stable, Mark Casse-trained filly.
The move approaching the quarter pole caught the eye of track announcer Robert Geller, who described the action as “coming like lightning around the outside.”
The filly turned for home with the advantage but He’s Not Joking reeled her in with a furlong to go and opened up to finish four lengths in front, stopping the clock in 1:43.18. He paid $23.00 to win. Dewolf collared Shifty for second.
He’s Not Joking was bred in Kentucky by James Wasserson and has earned $110,266 from his two victories in four starts.
