The rapidly improving Sunday Finery won her second consecutive route race, while earning her first black type win, capturing the Grade 3 Mazarine Stakes ($175,000), presented by Seedlip, Sunday at Woodbine.
Sunday Finery is the first blacktype winner for her sire, Mystic Guide. Mystic stands at Darley Stallions near Lexington for $7,500.
Ridden by Sahin Civaci for the second straight engagement, the dark bay, brown filly broke smoothly from post position four, as the field of five embarked on their 1 1/16 mile main track journey in the graded event for two-year-old fillies.
First time under the wire, Civaci eased the daughter of Mystic Guide into fifth position, while angling her to the rail into the clubhouse turn. Mrs D showed the way, with Mo Cookie shading her. Epic Affair was a close third. Homeawayfromhome and Sunday Finery completed the early running order through an opening two furlongs in :23.66.
Up the backstretch, Mrs D, under increased pressure from Mo Cookie, continued to lead through an opening half mile in :48.36. Into the far turn, Mrs D shook clear of that nemesis, as Epic Affair quickened sharply inside of a tiring Mo Cookie, while angling outside to challenge the leader through three quarters in 1:12.60.
Meanwhile, Sunday Finery was winding up and moved into third position as the top three hit the head of the lane. Outside the eighth pole, the James Begg-trained Sunday Finery exploded splendidly up the rail, powering home to score by 6 3/4 lengths in a final time of 1:44.29.
Bred in Ontario by Bernard and Karen McCormack, Sunday Finery was the only filly in the Mazarine with two turn experience on the Woodbine all weather surface, having run off the screen to break her maiden by 13 1/2 lengths on September 26th.
"We always kind of thought she was a two-turn horse," said Begg. "When she was showing up in her earlier races, we were happy because we always felt like there was, it was kind of the next level would be going further, with her breeding and everything and also just the way she looked and trained."
Owned by Walmac Farm, Jeff Begg, Annabel Begg, Eric Long and Bart Siegel, Sunday Finery was making her fifth career start in the Mazarine after the smashing triumph previously when making her route debut.
Her conditioner said the 1 1/16 mile Princess Elizabeth Stakes (November 28th) could be next on the filly's schedule.
"As long as everything comes out right that's kind of how we had planned that initially because we were looking at that race and we kind of saw that timing on this race kind of set up okay for that race so that was kind of the that's always kind of been the goal for the end of the season with her."
With the Mazarine win, Sunday Finery (Mystic Guide - Aunty Mo, by Uncle Mo) improved to 2-1-1 from five career starts, while remaining undefeated at the distance. The winner opened at 6-1 morning line, went to post at 7-2 and returned $9.20 for the win. Mrs D was second, followed by Epic Affair, Mo Cookie and Homeawayfromhome.
Speaker's Speech Shines in Grey Stakes
Speaker's Speech aced both his synthetic and two-turn debut to break his maiden in style, winning the $175,000 bet365 Grey Stakes (Grade 3) Sunday at Woodbine.
Making just his third career start, the Mark Casse trained bay colt broke on top from post position two, and outsprinted Maryland shipper Freedom Hall, to lead through an opening quarter mile in :23.75. Fellow Casse trainee and race favourite Play It Again was third on the rail. Victoria Stakes winner Uncle Dodo, Authentic Gold, Okarito and Simcoe Stakes winner King's Counsel completed the early running order, in the 1 1/16 mile route for two-year-olds.
Despite being pressed by Freedom Hall, jockey Rafael Hernandez was able to give Speaker's Speech, a son of Grade 1 winner Speaker's Corner, a second quarter breather, while carrying a comfortable one length lead to the half mile in :49.08.
Around the far turn, Speaker's Speech continued to carry his speed well, passing the six-furlong mark, still a length in front in 1:13.49. A furlong out, Speaker's Speech edged away smartly, going on to score by 1 1/4 lengths, while never being headed in a final time of 1:44.55. Stablemate Play It Again finished well to be second. Okarito made a late charge to finish third. Freedom Hall held for fourth.
An $875,000 purchase at the 2026 Ocala Breeders' Spring sale of two-year-olds in training, Speaker's Speech debuted at Woodbine in the Soaring Free Stakes in August. Away slowly, the Kentucky-bred made a sweeping move around the turn, finishing second by a head to the filly De la Renta, who contested and finished 9th in Friday's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.
Adding Lasix in his second career start, Speaker's Speech shortened up to five furlongs, lacked a clean trip, but ran on well to be third in the Grade 3-Algonquin Stakes over Woodbine's inner turf course.
"First time he was just walking out of there," said Hernandez, who has ridden Speaker's Speech in all three of his career starts. "Second time he started to realize what it's meant to be. And today he just broke right on the top and he impressed me.
I don't expect to be in the lead. I thought the shipper (Freedom Hall), was going to get the lead. On paper it looked like he was the most, the best of speed. And my plan was going to be tracking him."
After Speaker's Speech swept to the early lead, Hernandez went to 'Plan B' and the relaxed, second quarter fraction, appeared key to Sunday's victory.
"I say from here, just please give me a breather, you know, on the backside. I opened up a little bit and let him breathe. And then he come back home running."
Bred in Kentucky by Tommy Wente Jr. and Scott Stephens, and owned by Gold Standard Racing Stable LLC, Speaker's Speech graduated vs winners, to improve to 1-1-1 in three career starts.
Speaker's Speech (Speaker's Corner - Danessa Deluxe, by Summer Bird) went off as the 2.60 second choice in the field of seven and returned $7.20 for the win.
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