Elysian Field takes Maple Leaf; Stormcast prevails in Bessarabian

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Reigning Canadian champion 3-year-old filly Elysian Field beat an accomplished field under a patient ride from Woodbine’s leading jockey Sahin Civaci in the Grade 3 Maple Leaf Stakes on Saturday.

Elysian Field raced about seven lengths off a quick pace on the backstretch with just one behind her in the 1 1/4-mile event for fillies and mares.

Favored Caitlinhergrtness, this year’s King’s Plate winner, assumed command from the front-running Ecstasy on the far turn and opened up a clear lead entering the stretch.

Elysian Field went three-wide between rivals at the quarter pole before closing strongly through the stretch to prevail by 1 1/4 lengths, in a time of 2:02.14. Last year’s Maple Leaf winner, Millie Girl, rallied on end to edge out Queen Regent for second, while Caitlinhergrtness faded to fourth in the 11-horse field.

“She’s a very professional horse,” Civaci said. “It’s always nice to sit on these types of horses. She has some class. She knows how to run.

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“Today, we popped out of the gate well. There were some horses that were hustling for the lead. I sat mid-pack. I was happy settling back and watching everything unfold. I had a lot of horse. I just had to follow the right horse. (Queen Regent) is pretty good, so I followed her and we found a path. She kicked on down the lane.”

Trained by Mark Casse, Elysian Field returned $8.70 as the second choice and banked $97,200 of the $159,990 purse for Team Valor International and Gary Barber.

Elysian Field and Millie Girl are both daughters of excellent synthetic sire Hard Spun.

*** Casse also won Saturday’s Grade 3, $153,740 Bessarabian with Stormcast, who led all the way in the seven-furlong sprint under Rafael Hernandez.

Favored Love to Shop closed from mid-pack to finish a half-length behind the winner, who completed the distance in 1:22.43. Tripolina wound up third in the 12-horse field of fillies and mares. Owen’s Tour Guide broke down on the far turn and was euthanized.

Stormcast ($8.40) earned $97,200 for K E M Racing Stable. The daughter of Mitole annexed the Bison City Stakes in August and was turning back off a leading second in the 1 1/4-mile Wonder Where Stakes for Canadian-bred sophomore fillies.

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