Wilson goes for Valedictory record aboard favored Who's the Star

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson goes for a record-breaking fifth win in the Grade 3 Valedictory on Sunday at Woodbine aboard Who’s the Star. The Mark Casse-trained stretch-runner should be favored in the $150,000 Tapeta tilt, which was shortened to 1 1/2 miles from its traditional distance of 1 3/4 miles last year.

Who’s the Star has won all four of his Woodbine appearances, beginning with an allowance in June and the Niagara Stakes in July, both 1 1/4-mile turf events. The son of Belmont Stakes winner Tonalist is coming off back-to-back graded stakes scores going 1 1/16 miles on Tapeta, in the Durham Cup and Autumn.

Casse, who sent out Belmont Stakes winner Sir Winston and Frosted Over to run one-two in last year’s Valedictory, believes Who’s the Star can stay the trip Sunday.

“I’m not worried about the distance at all – it’s more about pace,” Casse said. “It takes a unique horse to run a mile and a half. I will say that he reminds me a lot of Sir Winston.”

Wilson said Who’s the Star’s stretch kick is his hallmark.

“The thing that struck me before I ever rode him was his ability to produce an explosive final quarter,” Wilson said. “I ride him patiently and help him get himself into a rhythm, and when he’s ready, all of that power comes to hand.”

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Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. is seeking his third stakes victory of the meet with Novo Sol, who rallied for third in the Grade 2 Autumn under Patrick Husbands on Nov. 6, six weeks after another third in the Presque Isle Downs Mile.

“He couldn’t quicken as much as [Who’s the Star], who was much the best, but overall, I thought it was a decent run,” Joseph said. “Patrick said that he ran well and ran his race. He’s a horse that doesn’t really have a quick acceleration, so I believe that a mile and a half will help him a bit better.”

Angelou will try to become the first filly or mare to win the Valedictory since Stellarina in 1995. The daughter of Curlin returned from a break to finish second going 1 1/4 miles in the Grade 3 Maple Leaf here Nov. 12.

“I thought she ran really well,” trainer Kevin Attard said. “She hadn’t run since [Queen’s] Plate Day. We just had a hard time getting her in races. She took a lot of pressure early and was able to survive that and run on at the end. I thought the winner had a great trip.

“She came out of it in good order. I think the distance shouldn’t be problem. She’s running against boys, so she has to step it up a little bit. I think it’s quite possible.”

Among the others in the 12-horse field are Elusive Knight, who cleared the second and third allowance conditions going 1 1/4 miles in each of his last two outings; the turf marathon specialist British Royalty; and Collective Force, the third-place finisher in the 2021 Valedictory.

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