Dixie Moon should rebound off Plate debacle in Wonder Where Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Following her disappointing run in the $1 million Queen’s Plate on June 30, Woodbine Oaks winner Dixie Moon will look to get back on track Sunday at Woodbine in the $225,000 Wonder Where Stakes, the third and final leg of the series for Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies.

The Wonder Where, at 1 1/4-miles on turf, is race 9 on an 11-race program that also includes the Grade 3 Seagram Cup for 3-year-olds and up.

Dixie Moon upset Queen’s Plate and Prince of Wales Stakes winner Wonder Gadot to win the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks two starts back on June 9, but then ran 16th and last three weeks later in the Queen’s Plate. Trainer Catherine Day Phillips said several factors appeared to contribute to Dixie Moon’s run in the Plate.

“A combination of three weeks isn’t that much time when you ran as hard as she did in the Oaks and it was very, very hot on Plate Day,” she said. “A few factors came together and created a perfect storm that wasn’t good for Dixie Moon. She’s had a bit of a break and she’s certainly doing well, eating well, and very happy now.”

Dixie Moon ran three strong races on the turf last year, winning the Cup and Saucer Stakes here against males, running second here in the Grade 1 Natalma Stakes, and finishing sixth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar. In her only other turf start, Dixie Moon finished last of nine on yielding turf in the Grade 2 Appalachian in April at Keeneland.

Key Contenders

Dixie Moon, by Curlin

Last 3 Beyers: 22-88-90

◗ While Dixie Moon didn’t appear to care for yielding turf in April, Day Phillips said she’s hoping for an improved effort in the Wonder Where.

“I think she’ll be happy to be back on the turf,” she said. “We’ve had a bit of time to regroup and reorganize, and hopefully we’ll be back at it again and see the old Dixie back on Sunday.”

Avie’s Mineshaft, by Mineshaft

Last 3 Beyers: 78-80-62

◗ She’ll make her turf debut in the Wonder Where off a neck defeat to Safe to Say in the Bison City Stakes on Tapeta in her most recent start July 1.

◗ Avie’s Mineshaft’s older half-brother Avie’s Mesa was a debut winner on turf as a 2-year-old in 2016. Her 2-year-old half-brother Avie’s Flatter will make his career debut earlier on the Sunday card.

Safe to Say, by Justin Phillip

Last 3 Beyers: 78-79-80

◗ She won the Bison City Stakes on Tapeta two starts back July 1 and ran fifth in the Grade 3 Ontario Colleen over a mile on the turf last time out July 21.

◗ While she appears to handle the turf, the distance could be a bit of a question mark, as both her sire and dam were at their best sprinting on dirt.

Double Latte, by The Factor

Beyers: 69-53

◗ She’s the lone maiden in the field, having finished fourth sprinting, then second in an open maiden special weight event around two turns July 27 on Tapeta.

◗ She’ll make her turf debut in the Wonder Where.

Glamanation, by Point of Entry

Last 3 Beyers: 67-76-62

◗ She was cross-entered in the Duchess Stakes on Saturday.

◗ In the lone turf try of her career, she ran fifth behind Wonder Gadot in the allowance prep for the Grade 1 Natalma Stakes in August 2017.