Sept 19, 2026 – Canuck Racing Club’s Clockwork Angel needed every inch of the Woodbine stretch Saturday, but the two-year-old found enough to prevail in a three-way finish and earn her first career victory.
Making just her second start, the Ontario-bred daughter of Hard Spun captured the opening race on September 19, a $71,700 maiden optional claiming event contested over 6.5 furlongs on firm turf. She defeated Flatter for Cat by a neck in 1:17.76, with Aloha Kitty another neck back in third.
There was growing support for the Kevin Attard trainee before the race. Aloha Kitty had been installed at 8-5 on the morning line, while Clockwork Angel was listed at 6-5. By post time, Clockwork Angel had been bet down to 1.35-1 favouritism.
Woodbine handicapper Jeff Bratt had also identified reasons to expect improvement. During the paddock coverage, Bratt noted that Clockwork Angel “didn’t get out of the gate all that great” in her July debut, which came against a field that subsequently produced other winners, including a stakes winner. With only that one start behind her, Bratt felt there could be “more under the hood” than she had been able to demonstrate on debut.
Under jockey Pietro Moran, Clockwork Angel began to provide the answer.
Breaking from the rail, she was involved early before Moran elected to take her back and allow Flatter for Cat and Aloha Kitty to contest the pace. Clockwork Angel settled alone in third as the leaders went through an opening quarter in 23.01 and a half-mile in 46.45.
Moran maintained that stalking position around the turn before angling Clockwork Angel outside the leaders and four wide for her challenge. Neither rival surrendered easily.
Flatter for Cat continued fighting for the lead while Aloha Kitty battled alongside her. Clockwork Angel, meanwhile, steadily reduced the deficit from the outside.
All three remained in contention inside the final sixteenth. Clockwork Angel had occupied third position through virtually the entire race, but she continued grinding forward under Moran and stretched her neck in front in the final strides.
The first three were separated by only two necks at the finish.
The victory represented a significant step forward from Clockwork Angel‘s July 26 debut at Woodbine and came after nearly two months between starts. More importantly, it demonstrated a different dimension from a lightly raced filly who was required to settle behind horses, circle rivals and fight through the stretch to earn her first victory.
Bred in Ontario by Adena Springs, Clockwork Angel is by Hard Spun out of the Shaman Ghost mare Shamaria.
