On July 20, Caitlnhergrtness entered the Woodbine starting gate as a lukewarm favorite in the Woodbine Oaks Presented by Stella Artois (CAN-R) but was outfinished by second choice Kin’s Concerto. Since then, the two fillies have been on different trajectories. Sent to the second leg of Canada’s Triple Tiara series, the Bison City Stakes (CAN-R) on August 10, Kin’s Concerto ran the worst race of her career and ended up seventh after running rather erratically. Caitlinhergrtness, on the other hand, stepped up her game. Supplemented to Canada’s oldest and most prestigious Classic, the King’s Plate, on August 23, Caitlinhergrtness ran down heavily favored My Boy Prince (last year’s Canadian champion 2-year-old male) to win by three-quarters of a length for owners Siena Farm and WinStar Farm. Her record now stands at three wins and two placings from seven starts.
Bred by Jesse Korona, the King’s Plate winner is one of six 2024 stakes winners from the first crop of multiple Grade 1 winner Omaha Beach. Runner-up to Maximum Security in Eclipse Award voting for champion 3-year-old male in 2019, the son of War Front is one of the best-bred young stallions out there. A half brother to American champion 2-year-old filly Take Charge Brandi (by Giant’s Causeway), he is out of Charming (by Seeking the Gold x 2013 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year and multiple Grade 1 winner Take Charge Lady), a half sister to 2013 American champion 3-year-old male Will Take Charge (by Unbridled’s Song), 2012 Florida Derby (USA-G1) winner Take Charge Indy (by A.P. Indy), and 2022 Beholder Mile Stakes (USA-G1) winner As Time Goes By (by American Pharoah). This family was covered in more detail in a previous post (“Mares on Monday: The Lady Took Charge,” May 24, 2021).
On the distaff side, Caitlinhergrtness’s pedigree is no less interesting. Her third dam is stakes-placed Helsinki, a daughter of 1989 French champion 2-year-old male Machiavellian and 1985 Gilltown Stud Irish Oaks (IRE-G1) heroine Helen Street and so a full sister to 2002 Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) winner and successful sire Street Cry. Helsinki proved at least as good a broodmare as Street Cry was a sire, producing 2004 European champion 2-year-old male and 2005 French dual Classic winner Shamardal (by Giant’s Causeway; a fine stallion in his own right) and 2013 Beresford Stakes (IRE-G2) winner Geoffrey Chaucer (by Montjeu). Helsinki is also the dam of Shamarbelle (by Montjeu), second dam of 2022 Chilean champion 2-year-old turf filly Sos Genia.
Diamond Necklace, Helsinki’s 2004 daughter by Unbridled’s Song, was stakes-placed in Ireland during her own racing days. She is the dam of Grade 1-placed listed stakes winner Dogtag (by War Front) and has two stakes producers among her daughters. One, stakes-placed Raskova (by Henrythenavigator), is the dam of 2023 Hobartville Stakes (AUS-G2) winner Osipenko (by Pierro). The other is Belatrix (by Giant’s Causeway), who produced Caitlinhergrtness as her fourth foal. Belatrix has since produced Sovereign Star, an as-yet-unraced 2-year-old colt by Midnight Lute, before being sold for US$11,000 at the 2023 Keeneland November sale, in foal to Greatest Honour. She failed to produce a live foal and was bred back to Loggins for 2025.
After four starts on dirt with only a maiden win to show for them, Caitlynhergrtness has definitely improved since being switched to turf (she won an optional claimer on the grass prior to the Woodbine Oaks) and the Tapeta course at Woodbine. That puts a question mark on whether she will try the boys again in the second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, the Prince of Wales Stakes (CAN-R), which will be contested over 9.5 furlongs on the dirt at Fort Erie on September 10. The third leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, the September 29 Breeders’ Stakes (CAN-R), is over 12 furlongs on the turf at Woodbine, a surface more to her liking and perhaps more favorable in spacing between races as well.
Whether or not Caitlinhergrtness tackles the males again, it seems likely that she will stay in Canada for now. On speed figures, she would need to make a substantial jump to be competitive with Thorpedo Anna, whose game stretch run in the Draftkings Travers Stakes (USA-G1) fell a shrinking head short of catching 2023 American champion 2-year-old male and 2024 Curlin Florida Derby (USA-G1) winner Fierceness. There are several good options coming up at Woodbine on both the main track and the turf course, however, and trainer Kevin Attard can afford to give his filly whatever time she needs to be at her best for her next race as he plots a course toward a possible Sovereign Award.
Bred by Jesse Korona, the King’s Plate winner is one of six 2024 stakes winners from the first crop of multiple Grade 1 winner Omaha Beach. Runner-up to Maximum Security in Eclipse Award voting for champion 3-year-old male in 2019, the son of War Front is one of the best-bred young stallions out there. A half brother to American champion 2-year-old filly Take Charge Brandi (by Giant’s Causeway), he is out of Charming (by Seeking the Gold x 2013 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year and multiple Grade 1 winner Take Charge Lady), a half sister to 2013 American champion 3-year-old male Will Take Charge (by Unbridled’s Song), 2012 Florida Derby (USA-G1) winner Take Charge Indy (by A.P. Indy), and 2022 Beholder Mile Stakes (USA-G1) winner As Time Goes By (by American Pharoah). This family was covered in more detail in a previous post (“Mares on Monday: The Lady Took Charge,” May 24, 2021).
On the distaff side, Caitlinhergrtness’s pedigree is no less interesting. Her third dam is stakes-placed Helsinki, a daughter of 1989 French champion 2-year-old male Machiavellian and 1985 Gilltown Stud Irish Oaks (IRE-G1) heroine Helen Street and so a full sister to 2002 Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) winner and successful sire Street Cry. Helsinki proved at least as good a broodmare as Street Cry was a sire, producing 2004 European champion 2-year-old male and 2005 French dual Classic winner Shamardal (by Giant’s Causeway; a fine stallion in his own right) and 2013 Beresford Stakes (IRE-G2) winner Geoffrey Chaucer (by Montjeu). Helsinki is also the dam of Shamarbelle (by Montjeu), second dam of 2022 Chilean champion 2-year-old turf filly Sos Genia.
Diamond Necklace, Helsinki’s 2004 daughter by Unbridled’s Song, was stakes-placed in Ireland during her own racing days. She is the dam of Grade 1-placed listed stakes winner Dogtag (by War Front) and has two stakes producers among her daughters. One, stakes-placed Raskova (by Henrythenavigator), is the dam of 2023 Hobartville Stakes (AUS-G2) winner Osipenko (by Pierro). The other is Belatrix (by Giant’s Causeway), who produced Caitlinhergrtness as her fourth foal. Belatrix has since produced Sovereign Star, an as-yet-unraced 2-year-old colt by Midnight Lute, before being sold for US$11,000 at the 2023 Keeneland November sale, in foal to Greatest Honour. She failed to produce a live foal and was bred back to Loggins for 2025.
After four starts on dirt with only a maiden win to show for them, Caitlynhergrtness has definitely improved since being switched to turf (she won an optional claimer on the grass prior to the Woodbine Oaks) and the Tapeta course at Woodbine. That puts a question mark on whether she will try the boys again in the second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, the Prince of Wales Stakes (CAN-R), which will be contested over 9.5 furlongs on the dirt at Fort Erie on September 10. The third leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, the September 29 Breeders’ Stakes (CAN-R), is over 12 furlongs on the turf at Woodbine, a surface more to her liking and perhaps more favorable in spacing between races as well.
Whether or not Caitlinhergrtness tackles the males again, it seems likely that she will stay in Canada for now. On speed figures, she would need to make a substantial jump to be competitive with Thorpedo Anna, whose game stretch run in the Draftkings Travers Stakes (USA-G1) fell a shrinking head short of catching 2023 American champion 2-year-old male and 2024 Curlin Florida Derby (USA-G1) winner Fierceness. There are several good options coming up at Woodbine on both the main track and the turf course, however, and trainer Kevin Attard can afford to give his filly whatever time she needs to be at her best for her next race as he plots a course toward a possible Sovereign Award.
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