Minks Aprise, on two weeks' rest, wins Trillium Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Despite competing on short rest, Minks Aprise justified her favoritism with a one-length score under Rafael Hernandez in Sunday’s $107,400 Trillium Stakes at Woodbine.

Minks Aprise ($7.40) raced in mid-pack on the backstretch in the 1 1/16-miles route, as Hot Kiss pressed Midnight Crossing through moderate fractions. Minks Aprise began to mount a four-wide rally on the far turn, and then took control at the eighth pole before stopping the timer in 1:44.72.

Ice Festival came from fourth to edge out a charging Lilly’s Goldie for second in the 10-horse field. Uchenna wound up fourth, as Hot Kiss faded to fifth.

Minks Aprise finished a troubled second sprinting in her season opener June 4 in the Grade 3 Hendrie Stakes. Trainer Roger Attfield supplemented her to the Trillium, after not nominating her.

“Coming off a long layoff, she ran such a good race, and came out of it very well,” Attfield recalled. “The ownership and syndicate manager, we talked about it, and we were a little concerned coming back in two weeks, but she trained so well, and was sort of saying it was okay. The race that we’re looking at next is the (Ontario Matron), which is another four or five weeks away from here, so we decided to give her a go. She ran beautifully, with no pace to run at. It was really pleasing.”

Minks Aprise, a 5-year-old mare by Northern Afleet, banked $60,000 for KMN Racing.