Piper’s Gift delivered a surprising performance at Woodbine in Saturday’s $250,000 Princess Elizabeth Stakes, a premier race for Canadian two-year-old fillies and a significant stepping stone toward the 71st Woodbine Oaks, which is the first leg of the Canadian Triple Tiara series.
The race began with Bells of Paradise taking the lead, followed closely by Ashley B., Piper’s Gift, and La Classe, completing the first quarter-mile in 24.63 seconds. Bells of Paradise maintained the lead through the halfway mark with Piper’s Gift, ridden by Rafael Hernandez, in third, holding a one-and-a-half length advantage over La Classe with a split time of 49.95 seconds. As the field rounded the final turn, Bells of Paradise faced pressure from several competitors, with Piper’s Gift making a strong move on the outside.
Gaining momentum with each stride, Piper’s Gift pulled away to win decisively by four and a half lengths. After a slow start, Katie’s Grace recovered to finish second, followed by Ashley B., who entered the race with a record of 64 wins and one loss. La Classe came in fourth. The race concluded with a final time of 1:46.39.
Trainer Dale DeRuisseau, who is enjoying his best year yet, praised Piper’s Gift’s progress, noting her earlier victory in the Glorious Song Stakes at Woodbine on October 12. He credited Rafael Hernandez for helping the filly relax during the race, which boosted his confidence. DeRuisseau also mentioned ongoing training efforts to help Piper’s Gift stay calm during workouts.
Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame jockey Robert Landry, now general manager of Chiefswood Stables, lauded Piper’s Gift as a remarkable filly who has consistently performed well throughout the year. Piper’s Gift began her winning streak on September 20 at Woodbine with an impressive eight-length victory in a six-furlong race.
Landry suggested that giving the filly some rest and time to mature before resuming her campaign in six to eight weeks, potentially targeting races at Keeneland or returning to Woodbine, would be the best course of action.
With a record of three wins in five starts, Piper’s Gift paid $2.90 to win, marking Hernandez’s 23rd stakes victory of the season and leading Colony.
Fan Take: Piper’s Gift’s impressive breakthrough in a key race highlights the rising talent emerging in Canadian horse racing. For fans, this signals exciting prospects in the pipeline, promising thrilling competitions ahead and enhancing the sport’s appeal.
