Canadian mission for Hallie Belle

Improving four-year-old filly Hallie Belle goes for a first Graded victory in the G2 Canadian Stakes over nine furlongs on turf at Woodbine, Canada, on Saturday, 15 September. 

The daughter of Medaglia d’Oro, trained by Michael Stidham, stayed on to come home fourth in the G2 Yellow Ribbon Handicap over an extended mile at Del Mar on 5 August. 

She finished strongly to take third in the extended nine-furlong G3 Modesty Handicap at Arlington Park in July, and swooped late to capture the Dahlia Stakes over a mile at Laurel Park in April. 

Hallie Belle breaks widest of all in a field of eight fillies and mares that also features last season’s G1 Belmont Oaks winner New Money Honey, plus Niigon’s Eclipse and Bletchley, who were first and second in the G2 Nassau Stakes at Woodbine in May. Eurico da Silva rides the Godolphin filly for the first time. 

Michael Stidham said: “Hallie Belle has been training very well. 

“We entered her at Kentucky Downs last weekend, but this looks a race that suits her better – we knew that they were forecast dry weather in Canada, while a mile and a furlong is a nice trip for her. 

“She has only run nine times in her career and I feel that she is still improving. She is coming up against a few decent fillies, but Hallie Belle fits within this group – we will see if we can get lucky.”