Moonlit Promise matches dam with Bessarabian Stakes win

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Like mother, like daughter. Trainer Josie Carroll sent out Smart Surprise to capture the 2008 Bessarabian Stakes, and she won Sunday’s edition of the Grade 2 event at Woodbine with that horse’s daughter, Moonlit Promise.

Moonlit Promise ($5.40) pressed an honest pace set by Perdona in the seven-furlong sprint for fillies and mares. She assumed command early in the stretch and then held off a charging Scotty’s Model to prevail by a head in 1:21.79.

Sister Nation rallied for third, and Boreale edged out Sugar Jones for fourth in the nine-horse field.

Gary Boulanger rode Moonlit Promise.

“She’s a pretty tough filly,” said Boulanger. “She put me in a good, comfortable position early on. She got to the front and waited a little bit, which is unusual for her. She showed me that she has a lot of grit.”

A homebred by Malibu Moon, Moonlit Promise earned $105,000 of the $183,450 purse for Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings.