Full Count Felicia takes on other heavy hitters in Grade 2 Canadian Stakes
At 10h20, on August 10, 2024 • By Woodbine
Full Count Felicia, a 5-year-old daughter of War Front, will contest her fifth consecutive graded affair when she goes postward in the $200,000 Canadian Stakes Presented by Japan Racing Association (G2T), Saturday at Woodbine.
Owned by Gold Square LLC, the well-travelled mare will get her second straight opportunity to navigate the E.P. Taylor turf, after a fourth last time out in the Nassau (G2T) on June 29.
Trained by Kevin Attard, Full Count Felicia is doing well ahead of the 1 1/8-mile turf race for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up.
“She came out of the last race in good order,” said Attard. “I thought she dug in and fought hard in the Nassau. When you look at her form, you see a lot of races where she didn’t throw the towel in. You can see that in her demeanor – she has that competitive streak in her.”
Over a 16-race career, Full Count Felicia has raced at 10 different racetracks, a list that includes engagements at Belmont, Aqueduct, Santa Anita, Gulfstream, Colonial Downs, and Tampa.
Her graded stakes dance card features the 2021 Demoiselle (G2), and the 2023 edition of the Goldikova (G2T).
The bay mare’s biggest victory came in the Suwannee River (G3T) last December at Gulfstream.
Sent off as the even-money choice, Full Count Felicia, under the tutelage of trainer Britney Russell, entered the mile turf event for fillies and mares on a three-race win streak.
She came to the Attard barn off a sixth in the Endeavour (G3T) this February.
“When you look at her body of work, it is impressive,” said Attard. “One thing that stands out is her ability to adapt to new surfaces and new track layouts. I think having that race under her saddle here at Woodbine helped her a lot.”
Attard, who won back-to-back editions of the Canadian, in 2018 and 2019, with the accomplished turfer Starship Jubilee, appreciates the versatility Full Count Felicia brings to the plate.
“She can be up front or come from out of it,” he noted. “That gives you a lot of options depending on how the race shapes up. If there is a lot of early speed, she can sit a trip, and if there isn’t a lot of pace, she doesn’t mind being on the lead or close to it. You appreciate that well-rounded talent.”
Bred in Kentucky by Joseph Allen, LLC, Full Count Felicia is out of the Irish-bred Galileo mare Claire de Lune. Joe Hardoon, agent, bought her for $200,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale.
