Attard's shuffle pays off as Full Count Felicia dominates Canadian

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Trainer Kevin Attard scratched Moira from Saturday’s Grade 2 Canadian at Woodbine in favor of Sunday’s Grade 2 Beverly D. at Colonial. Favored Full Count Felicia proved to be a worthy backup for him by posting an authoritative score in the 1 1/8-mile turf route for fillies and mares.

Full Count Felicia went straight to the front under Rafael Hernandez and set a moderate pace with Elysian Field in close proximity. She opened up a clear lead around the turn and then coasted home on top by 2 3/4 lengths, in a time of 1:48.69, over a course labeled as good.

Millie Girl rallied wide for second and Five Towns was third in the eight-horse field. Mission of Joy and Libban were also withdrawn to contest the Beverly D.

“She loved the surface,” said Hernandez, who won last year’s Canadian on Moira. “You can see down the stretch when I asked her a little bit at the quarter pole, she picked it up right away. I tried to get the jump on (the others).”

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Full Count Felicia ($7.80) earned $120,000 of the $210,400 purse for owner Gold Square LLC.

*** Stormcast darted out to a clear lead under Patrick Husbands and never looked back in an impressive 7 3/4-length win in Saturday’s $250,500 Bison City Stakes.

Stormcast held up the start of the race while being reluctantly loaded into the gate. The daughter of Mitole set quick fractions in the 1 1/16-mile event and then kicked away in the stretch to prevail in 1:43.24.

Hurricane Clair finished second after a stalking trip, and Dancing Duchess beat out My Girl Della for third in the nine-horse field of Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies.

Husbands was also aboard when Stormcast was a front-running second two back in a nine-furlong allowance.

“I never got her shut off last time,” Husbands recalled. “Seven furlongs out on the first turn (today), she shut right off. She showed that she’s all class.”

Stormcast ($15.50) earned $150,000 in her first stakes success for K E M Racing Stable. She gave trainer Mark Casse his seventh win in the Bison City, which is the second leg of the Canadian Triple Tiara.

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