TORONTO— Dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse has owned the Selene in recent years, with victories in the last five runnings among his total of eight scores of the open 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-old fillies.
That streak was expected to continue in Saturday’s renewal of Woodbine’s Grade 3 test but Wonder Wheel, winner of last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies en route to divisional Eclipse Award honours and the 3-5 choice in the field of nine, spun her tires while her unheralded stablemate Solo Album romped to a 6 ¼-length score.
Solo Album had led throughout when winning her maiden in her sixth career start and local 2023 debut over 1 1/16 miles here May 12.
Those tactics were changed in the Selene as Sahin Civaci, riding Solo Album for the first time, took the Kentucky-bred filly off the pace after she broke from the outside in the field of nine.
“Before, in the paddock, Mr. Casse called and told me not to go to the front, there’s going to be some speed up there, lay up close though, so that’s what we did.
“I saw Wonder Wheel getting boxed in a bit, but he (jockey, Patrick Husbands) managed to get out and I was sitting there outside of him, I was waiting for him to move. When I saw he wasn’t having much horse, I did make that move just to save up ground and not get caught out wide. While she was in the momentum, I just kept her with her momentum and she finished up really strong.”
Honor D Lady, one of three invaders trained by Saffie Joseph, Jr., along with Be My Sunshine and Blind Spot, rallied from last and could not seriously threaten the winner but outfinished Tito’s Calling for second money.
Tito’s Calling, sent off at 45-1, was a half-length back in third as one of four Woodbine Oaks nominees in the field along with Fortyfiveseventy (fourth), Dolce Sopresa (fifth) and Speed Trap (ninth).
Be My Sunshine had led through fractions of :23.72, :47.14, and 1:11.20 pressed by Dolce Sopresa and Speed Trap, before weakening to finish sixth. Blind Spot also tired to finish seventh with Wonder Wheel ending next to last. Friends for Life was scratched.
The final time was 1:42.65.
The Selene is the final local stepping-stone for the Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser, a $500,000 race for Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies, which will be run on July 23.
A $535,000 (U.S.) Keeneland yearling, Solo Album races for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Gary Barber and Steven Rocco. The win in the Selene seriously enhances the value of the daughter of Curlin and the Arch mare, Summer Solo.
She paid $21.10 for the win.