Marvellous Moira Was First in Thrilling Beverly D Stakes Finish

In a gripping showdown at Colonial Downs on August 11, Canadian star Moira narrowly defeated Fev Rover (Ire) in the $500,000 Beverly D (G2) Stakes, securing her spot in the Breeders’ Cup. The five-year-old Ontario-bred mare, known as Canada’s Queen of Racing, displayed her resilience and racing prowess, affirming that she is better than ever.

Moira, trained by Kevin Attard, found herself at Colonial Downs after scratching from Woodbine’s Canadian Stakes (G2) scheduled for the same weekend. The race at Colonial Downs had been delayed by a day due to heavy rain from Tropical Storm Debby, and the event itself faced several delays on Sunday, leading to a late-running schedule. Despite the setbacks, Moira and Fev Rover delivered a spectacular performance in the 1 3/16-mile race.

Fev Rover, last year’s Beverly D winner, took the early lead with a brisk pace, covering the opening quarter in 23.56 seconds before slowing down the tempo to reach the half-mile in 49.22 seconds. Moira, tracking comfortably in third, made her move as they approached the far turn, steadily gaining ground. As they entered the long stretch, Moira engaged in a fierce duel with Fev Rover, eventually inching ahead in the final strides to claim victory by a narrow margin. The winning time on firm turf was 1:54.80.

Trainer Kevin Attard praised Moira's performance, particularly highlighting her preference for firmer turf conditions compared to Fev Rover, who excels on softer ground. Attard revealed that despite concerns about the storm, they decided to take a chance on racing at Colonial Downs due to the track’s reputation for good turf drainage. Looking ahead, Attard mentioned the E.P. Taylor Stakes on September 14 at Woodbine as a potential next target, leading up to the Breeders’ Cup.

Moira, a standout in Canadian racing with victories in the 2022 Queen’s Plate and Woodbine Oaks, was a popular favourite, returning $3.40 for the win. Following her third-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf last year, Moira was offered for sale, fetching $3 million at the Fasig-Tipton Night with the Stars auction. Most of her original owners, including SF Bloodstock and Madaket Stable, remained in the partnership, while X-Men Racing exited, and Lanni Bloodstock joined.

With her Beverly D. victory, Moira has now improved her record to 18 starts, including six wins, five seconds, and two-thirds, amassing career earnings of $1,823,999. This triumph further cements her status as one of North America's top turf mares and sets the stage for an exciting campaign toward the Breeders’ Cup.