King’s Plate champ Caitlinhergrtness takes on 12 in Grade 3 Maple Leaf
At 13h01, on November 9, 2024 • By Chris Lomon, Woodbine Communications
Thirteen fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and upward, will travel 1 ¼ miles on the main track in Saturday’s Grade 3 $135,000 Maple Leaf Stakes at Woodbine.
The field includes this year’s King’s Plate winner Caitlinhergrtness.
Named after WNBA basketball star Caitlin Clark, the daughter of Omaha Beach, who was the lone filly in the 165th running of $1 million Canadian classic, rallied late under Rafael Hernandez to win by three-quarters of a length in 2:03.45.
Trained by Kevin Attard for Siena Farm LLC and WinStar Farm LLC, Caitlinhergrtness heads into the Maple Leaf off a third in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes at Keeneland on Oct. 12.
“I thought she ran a great race last time out,” said Attard. “It was a massive step up and she delivered a big effort. We were very happy with it.”
Caitlinhergrtness launched her career in the U.S., where she made four starts. After a third at Saratoga in her debut, she broke her maiden next time out at Belmont. She closed out her 2-year-old campaign with a fourth in the Tempted Stakes at Aqueduct and opened her 3-year-old season with a fourth at Gulfstream before bringing her talents north to Woodbine.
“She is like a willing student who passes every test with flying colours,” praised Attard, who will also send out multiple graded stakes winner Fashionably Fab.
The chestnut filly has compiled a record 3-1-2 from 8 starts and has $688,077 (U.S.) in purse earnings.
