Silent Sonet, Niigon's Eclipse get rematch in Victoriana Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Silent Sonet and Niigon’s Eclipse, who ran first and second in the Zadracarta Stakes on July 1, will face off again in the $100,000 Victoriana Stakes for Ontario-sired fillies and mares over 1 1/16 miles on turf Monday at Woodbine.

Silent Sonet sat a perfect stalking trip behind a quick pace in the seven-furlong Zadracarta Stakes on Woodbine’s turf course, while Niigon’s Eclipse found herself off the pace after having been on the early lead in her previous five starts. While Niigon’s Eclipse rallied wide into the stretch and was gaining ground late, she couldn’t catch Silent Sonet.

Silent Sonet recorded her first win of the year in the Zadracarta after having finished fifth in the Grade 3 Whimsical Stakes and fourth in the restricted Ballade Stakes, both synthetic-track sprints.

“We were so happy for her,” trainer Nicholas Gonzalez said. “She had a couple of troubled trips the first two times we ran her. Things just went right.”

Key Contenders

Silent Sonet, by Silent Name
Last 3 Beyers: 91-75-81

◗ She’s won three of her five starts on the turf. Seven of her nine starts have come in sprints, but she did record a 6 1/4-length win in the La Prevoyante Stakes over a mile on turf last season as a 3-year-old.

Niigon’s Eclipse, by Niigon
Last 3 Beyers: 87-93-85

◗ She’ll be looking to win this race for the second year in a row and has hit the board in nine consecutive starts.

◗ She won the Grade 2 Nassau Stakes in gate-to-wire fashion over a mile two starts back on May 27 and should enjoy the stretch-out in distance.

Red Cabernet, by Signature Red
Last 3 Beyers: 74-85-64

◗ She earned a career-best 85 Beyer Speed Figure when she won an Ontario-sired allowance over a mile on turf by 4 3/4 lengths two starts back on June 6.

◗ She was well off the early pace in the Zadracarta last out but did rally to finish fifth.

Miss Sea, by Marchfield
Last 3 Beyers: 82-64-67

◗ She set a pressured pace and finished fourth, beaten two lengths, behind Niigon’s Eclipse in last year’s Victoriana.

◗ She’ll return to restricted company after winning a second-level open allowance by a length over 1 1/16 miles on turf June 29.