Woodbine: Moonlit Beauty and Reconnect meet again in Classy 'n Smart

Michael Burns

Moonlit Beauty (right) defeated Reconnect in the Victoriana Stake in August.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Moonlit Beauty and Reconnect, the one-two finishers in the restricted Victoriana Stakes over 1 1/16 miles of turf here Aug. 18, will be renewing their rivalry Sunday in the 1 1/16-mile Classy ‘n Smart on the main track. The $125,000 Classy ‘n Smart, for Ontario-sired fillies and mares, attracted a field of eight.

Moonlit Beauty, a homebred 6-year-old who races for Bill Gierkink, finished second in last year’s Classy ‘n Smart behind the now-retired Bear It’s Time. Trained by John LeBlanc, Moonlit Beauty has won the Belle Geste and Zadracarta, both over seven furlongs of turf, and is the top money-winner in the Classy ‘n Smart field with a bankroll of $501,391.

Moonlit Beauty also had been nominated to Sunday’s Avowal, an open seven-furlong turf race for fillies and mares.

“Turf is her preferred surface but that looked like a tough spot,” said LeBlanc. “The Classy ‘n Smart was a logical next step for her after the Victoriana. She’s been training great; she definitely warrants being in there.”

Eurico Rosa da Silva returns aboard Moonlit Beauty, who will break from the outside post as the 121-pound highweight.

While Moonlit Beauty led throughout the Victoriana, Reconnect was well back early and closed with a rush to miss by a head.

“That was a painful loss,” said Ashlee Brnjas, who conditions Reconnect for the Colebrook Farm of her father, John Brnjas.

Reconnect, winner of last year’s restricted La Prevoyante over one mile of turf, has notched her other three wins over 1 1/16 miles of Polytrack.

Justin Stein, who will ride Reconnect in the Classy ‘n Smart, was aboard when the homebred 4-year-old breezed five furlongs in a bullet 59 on the dirt training track here last Sunday.

“She worked like a monster,” said Ashlee Brnjas. “She’s in good order. She’s really been on her toes.”

Reconnect drew the inside post and will carry 117 pounds.

It’s Gail and Grace Phil, both 3-year-olds trained by Bob Tiller, have won Ontario-sired stakes in their own division but will be facing older rivals on Sunday.

Luis Contreras retains the mount on It’s Gail, who won the 1 1/16-mile Eternal Search here Aug. 12 and then finished second behind stablemate Nikkis Bold Gelato in the La Prevoyante over one mile of soft turf.

Grace Phil didn’t handle the going in the La Prevoyante but won the seven-furlong Passing Mood over seven furlongs of firm going this July and the 1 1/16-mile South Ocean on the main track here last November. Regular rider Steven Bahen will be in the irons.

Rounding out the field are PecheMobilee, Kay’s Grace, Classic Maria, and Clementis.