Woodbine: Moonlit Beauty hangs on by head in Victoriana

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Moonlit Beauty led all the way to take the $126,200 Victoriana Stakes with determination at Woodbine on Saturday.

Moonlit Beauty ($4.50) broke alertly under Eurico Da Silva, and set honest fractions in the 1 1/16-mile turf route. She had a 3 1/2-length lead at the eighth pole, and then held off a charging Reconnect to prevail by a head, in 1:41.85. Let’s Forget It was another 1 1/4 lengths back in third in the 11-horse field of Ontario-sired fillies and mares.

Trained by John LeBlanc Jr., Moonlit Beauty earned $75,000 in her third stakes score for owner/breeder William Gierkink. It boosted her bankroll $501,391.

“I talked to John and we were going to play it by ear,” said Da Silva. “Today, she broke sharply, and was very focused. She tries so hard from beginning to end.”