Woodbine Oaks part of stakes-filled, 14-race Sunday card
At 0h02, on July 18, 2026 • By Chris Lomon, Woodbine
Seven fillies, including Katie’s Grace, will vie for top prize in the $500,000 (plus up to $250,000 for eligible Ontario-breds) Woodbine Oaks Presented by Stella Artois, one of four stakes on Sunday’s 14-race card at Woodbine.
Inaugurated in 1956, the filly classic, for Canadian-foaled 3-year-old fillies carrying 121 pounds over 1 1/8 miles on the main track. For Canadian viewers, The Oaks and Plate Trial will both be shown live on CBC Gem, CBCSports.ca and the CBC Sports YouTube channel, with the broadcast starting at 5:00 p.m. ET.
Sunday’s card also features the $200,000 Plate Trial Stakes, a key race ahead of The King’s Plate (August 15), the $200,000 Nassau Stakes (G2T), and the $200,000 bet365 Connaught Cup (G2T).
Trained by multiple graded stakes winner Catherine Day Phillips for Chivalry Thoroughbred Racing LLC and Hubert Vester, Katie’s Grace made a winning debut last September at Woodbine.
After veering out at the start, the daughter of Independence Hall out of the Kitten’s Joy mare Bella Joy raced mid-pack in the 7-furlong maiden special weight main track race for 2-year-olds. A half-length back of the leader at the stretch call, Katie’s Grace seized command and went on to secure a half-length score in 1:25.13.
“She had always trained very well, and we thought she would like a distance of ground,” said Day Phillips, who has two Oaks wins, in 2016 with Neshama and in 2018 with Dixie Moon. “Based on that, we didn’t want to start her in shorter races, so we waited for the 7-furlong race.
“She is a very athletic filly, and everything came easy to her. The breezes, right from the beginning, were easy for her. She wasn’t just fast – she would sit in company and do whatever you asked her to do. That was nice to see. It’s one thing to be fast, but to be able to measure the speed is a wonderful trait, and she had that from the beginning.”
Katie’s Grace capped off her rookie campaign with a third in the Mazarine Stakes (G3) on Nov. 2 and was a strong runner-up in the Princess Elizabeth later that month.
The bay filly wintered in Ocala with Ellen Kim.
“Over the course of last summer, we developed a friendship with Ellen and sent Katie’s Grace back to her for the winter. Ellen had done such a wonderful job with her from yearling to 2, we went right back to Ocala for 2 to 3. She had a little break, where she was turned out. She had a nice, relaxing winter and came back to us in good order.”
Katie’s Grace finished fifth in her sophomore debut, a 7-furlong main track allowance optional claimer and followed it up with a fourth in the Fury Stakes, at the same distance and on the same course, on June 6.
She arrives at the Oaks off a 34-1 second in the Selene Stakes, at 1 1/16 miles over the main track, on June 27.
“I thought the blinkers were very effective in what we were trying to achieve,” said Day Phillips. “She was on the bridle and Ryan [jockey, Munger] was able to get her into a good position. She finished up very well with the return to two turns and I was very happy to see her have a strong gallop out, especially since we are going a little further on Sunday.”
As to whether Katie’s Grace shares anything in common with Day Phillips’ two Oaks winners, the 47-time stakes winner said, “I would say she’s a little bit like Neshama, but more talented. She also has a different character than Dixie Moon. She was full of personality and great fun to work with, so I would say that Katie’s Grace is more relatable to Neshama.”
Bred in Ontario by Northern Dawn Stables and Sandy Giffen, Katie’s Grace was an $80,000 purchase at the 2025 OBS Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training.
