Sunday Finery burst through an opening along the inside rail and quickly accelerated on her way to drawing off to a six-and-three-quarter length victory in the G3 Mazarine Stakes at Woodbine on Sunday, Nov. 1.
In doing so, the two-year-old dark bay filly became the first Graded Stakes winner for her freshman sire, Mystic Guide.
A compact field of five went to the post in the G3 Mazarine, an 8.5-furlong contest over the all-weather Tapeta course. At the break, it was favored Mrs D that zipped right to the front to set the pace, as Sunday Finery was content to settle at the rear of the field while saving ground along the rail.
Sunday Finery began to lengthen her stride at the half-mile marker, picking off runners as the field entered the far turn. Mrs D and Epic Affair were fighting for the lead as they hit the top of the lane, but Sunday Finery took advantage of an opening along the rail to fly past that duo and take command, quickly accelerating and drawing off to put the race to bed. She cruised home an easy winner by six-and-three-quarter lengths over Mrs D, with Epic Affair settling for third.
Bred in Ontario by Bernard and Karen McCormack, Sunday Finery is out of the Uncle Mo mare, Aunty Mo, and is a half-sister to Graded Stakes-placed Mo Tourist (Tourist). Aunty Mo herself is out of the G1-placed mare, Head East (Gone West), making her a half-sister to Stakes winners Wild Shout (Rahy) and Merchant Marine (Tiznow).
Rated the best in the world after winning the G1 Dubai World Cup in a time faster than Arrogate and California Chrome, Mystic Guide also won the G2 Jim Dandy at three and took the G3 Razorback by six lengths. Sunday Finery is one of eight first-crop winners for her sire, who is also represented impressive maiden winners Mystic Ride, a four-length debut winner for trainer Bob Baffert and Starfinder, a winner on the turf at Santa Anita.
Mystic Guide will stand the 2027 breeding season at Jonabell Farm in Kentucky for $7,500 stands and nurses.
