Dixie Moon possible for Queen's Plate

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Catherine Day Phillips said Dixie Moon was in good order Sunday morning following her victory in Saturday’s $500,000 Woodbine Oaks over Wonder Gadot. Owned by Sean and Dorothy Fitzhenry, Dixie Moon will now be considered for the $1 million Queen’s Plate on June 30 for her next start.

“You have to consider the Queen’s Plate,” Day Phillips said. “She’s one of the top 3-year-olds, male or female. There’s no pressure whatsoever from Sean and Dorothy to run in the Plate. They’ve been very clear about that. Wherever we think is the best spot to run is where we go. We’ll let her tell us. It’s a nice position to be in. We’re very lucky that they’re open to whatever we think is the right thing for Dixie.”

Dixie Moon earned a career-best 88 Beyer Speed Figure in the Woodbine Oaks. She stalked pacesetter Fairy Hill in the early going under jockey Eurico Da Silva before taking control of the race on the far turn and holding off Wonder Gadot in deep stretch.

“It was nice that she was able to settle and relax and just kind of cruise along there until it was time to be called upon,” Day Phillips said.

Day Phillips has now won two of the last three Woodbine Oaks, having won the race with Neshama in 2016. It was the first Woodbine Oaks victory for the Fitzhenrys.

Day Phillips chose to skip the Queen’s Plate with Neshama in 2016, but said this year is a different situation.

“[Dixie Moon] has a very strong pedigree and I think she’s a stronger horse than Neshama was,” she said. “Nothing against Neshama, but Dixie’s a stronger horse.”