Holy Helena (CAN)
May 4, 2014 – Living
Ghostzapper (USA) x Holy Grace (USA), by Holy Bull (USA)
Family 3-l
May 4, 2014 – Living
Ghostzapper (USA) x Holy Grace (USA), by Holy Bull (USA)
Family 3-l
After proving to be the best Canadian filly of her crop at 3, Holy Helena raced from Canada to Florida at ages 4 and 5 and compiled a solid record as a staying turf mare. She has yet to have any success as a broodmare.
Race record
20 starts, 8 wins, 3 seconds, 2 thirds, US$1,330,018 (included converted Canadian earnings)
2017:
2018:
2019:
Honors
Sovereign Award, Canadian champion 3-year-old filly (2017)
As an individual
A bay mare, Holy Helena is strongly made and was a good doer while racing.
As a producer
As of April 15, 2025, Holy Helena has produced four foals, but none have been named or raced.
Connections
Foaled in Ontario, Holy Helena was bred by Frank Stronach's Adena Springs. She raced in the colors of Stronach Stables and was trained by Jimmy Jerkens. She was ridden to her Canadian Classic victories by Luis Contreras. She was sold through the 2020 Keeneland November sale for US$1.5 million, covered by Quality Road, and is now a broodmare for Spendthrift Farm.
Pedigree notes
Holy Helena is inbred 5x5 to 1959 American champion sprinter Intentionally, to The Axe II (who shared highweight honors with divisional champion Mongo on the Daily Racing Form's 1963 Free Handicap for American turf runners), and to the great international sire Northern Dancer, 1964 Canadian Horse of the Year and American champion 3-year-old male. She is a half sister to 2015 Amsterdam Stakes (USA-G2) winner Holy Boss (by Street Boss).
Holy Helena’s dam Holy Grace won two of her 14 starts. She is a half sister to 2013 Twilight Derby (USA-G2) winner Rookie Sensation (by Unbridled’s Song), to multiple Grade 3 winner Mark One (by Alphabet Soup), and to Daiwa Carson (by Carson City), whose win in the 1999 Keio Hai Sansai Stakes was a listed race by international standards and a Group 2 race by Japanese standards at that time. Holy Grace is also a half sister to Archduchess (by Pleasant Tap), dam of 2010 Ohio Derby (USA-G3) winner Pleasant Prince (by Indy King) and second dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Society.
Holy Grace and her siblings are out of multiple stakes winner My Marchesa (by multiple Grade 1 winner Stately Don, by Nureyev), a half sister to 2000 Eclipse Handicap (CAN-G2) winner Black Cash (by Deposit Ticket) and to Zuni (by Seattle Dancer), dam of multiple Indian stakes winner Kanthara (by Alnasr Alwasheek). My Marchesa, in turn, is out of the stakes-placed Buckpasser mare Sooni, a full sister to 1991 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Toll Booth and a half sister to six stakes winners produced by Missy Baba including 1977 Arlington-Washington Futurity (USA-G1) winner Sauce Boat (by Key to the Mint), 1970 Ashland Stakes winner and multiple graded stakes producer Gay Missile (by Sir Gaylord), and 1980 American champion sire Raja Baba (by Bold Ruler).
Books and media
The New York Racing Association’s footage of Holy Helena’s win in the 2018 Sheepshead Bay Stakes can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnCgJaVayyg.
Fun facts
Last updated: April 18, 2025
Race record
20 starts, 8 wins, 3 seconds, 2 thirds, US$1,330,018 (included converted Canadian earnings)
2017:
- Won Queen's Plate (CAN-R, 10FA, Woodbine)
- Won Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser (CAN-R, 9FA, Woodbine)
- 2nd Ontario Derby (CAN-G3, 9FA, Woodbine)
2018:
- Won Sheepshead Bay Stakes (USA-G2, 11FT, Belmont)
- Won The Very One Stakes (USA-G3, 9.5FT, Gulfstream Park)
- 2nd Via Borghese Stakes (USA, 9.5FT, Gulfstream Park)
- 3rd Dance Smartly Stakes (CAN-G2, 10FT, Woodbine)
- 3rd Turnback the Alarm Handicap (USA-G3, 9FD, Aqueduct)
2019:
- Won Dance Smartly Stakes (CAN-G2, 10FT, Woodbine)
- Won The Very One Stakes (USA-G3, 9.5FT, Gulfstream Park)
Honors
Sovereign Award, Canadian champion 3-year-old filly (2017)
As an individual
A bay mare, Holy Helena is strongly made and was a good doer while racing.
As a producer
As of April 15, 2025, Holy Helena has produced four foals, but none have been named or raced.
Connections
Foaled in Ontario, Holy Helena was bred by Frank Stronach's Adena Springs. She raced in the colors of Stronach Stables and was trained by Jimmy Jerkens. She was ridden to her Canadian Classic victories by Luis Contreras. She was sold through the 2020 Keeneland November sale for US$1.5 million, covered by Quality Road, and is now a broodmare for Spendthrift Farm.
Pedigree notes
Holy Helena is inbred 5x5 to 1959 American champion sprinter Intentionally, to The Axe II (who shared highweight honors with divisional champion Mongo on the Daily Racing Form's 1963 Free Handicap for American turf runners), and to the great international sire Northern Dancer, 1964 Canadian Horse of the Year and American champion 3-year-old male. She is a half sister to 2015 Amsterdam Stakes (USA-G2) winner Holy Boss (by Street Boss).
Holy Helena’s dam Holy Grace won two of her 14 starts. She is a half sister to 2013 Twilight Derby (USA-G2) winner Rookie Sensation (by Unbridled’s Song), to multiple Grade 3 winner Mark One (by Alphabet Soup), and to Daiwa Carson (by Carson City), whose win in the 1999 Keio Hai Sansai Stakes was a listed race by international standards and a Group 2 race by Japanese standards at that time. Holy Grace is also a half sister to Archduchess (by Pleasant Tap), dam of 2010 Ohio Derby (USA-G3) winner Pleasant Prince (by Indy King) and second dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Society.
Holy Grace and her siblings are out of multiple stakes winner My Marchesa (by multiple Grade 1 winner Stately Don, by Nureyev), a half sister to 2000 Eclipse Handicap (CAN-G2) winner Black Cash (by Deposit Ticket) and to Zuni (by Seattle Dancer), dam of multiple Indian stakes winner Kanthara (by Alnasr Alwasheek). My Marchesa, in turn, is out of the stakes-placed Buckpasser mare Sooni, a full sister to 1991 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Toll Booth and a half sister to six stakes winners produced by Missy Baba including 1977 Arlington-Washington Futurity (USA-G1) winner Sauce Boat (by Key to the Mint), 1970 Ashland Stakes winner and multiple graded stakes producer Gay Missile (by Sir Gaylord), and 1980 American champion sire Raja Baba (by Bold Ruler).
Books and media
The New York Racing Association’s footage of Holy Helena’s win in the 2018 Sheepshead Bay Stakes can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnCgJaVayyg.
Fun facts
- Holy Helena is the seventh filly to win both the Woodbine Oaks and the Queen’s Plate, following Flaming Page (1962), La Lorgnette (1985), Dance Smartly (1991), Dancethruthedawn (2001), Inglorious (2011), and Lexie Lou (2014). Moira added her name to this list of Canadian stars in 2022.
Last updated: April 18, 2025