May 29, 2026 – War Painter delivered a strong and determined winning effort Friday at Woodbine, taking Race 6, a $117,600 allowance optional claiming event for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on the fast Tapeta.
Owned by Canuck Racing Club and trained by Kevin Attard, War Painter entered a compact but tactical five-horse field that was expected to revolve around Takemetothebeach, a U.S. shipper with strong synthetic form and recent racing fitness. The public agreed, sending Takemetothebeach off as the heavy 0.35 favourite, while War Painter went off at 5.25 as a well-respected alternative.
The race unfolded with War Signal showing early speed before Takemetothebeach asserted herself from the rail and took control into the first turn. Jockey Fraser Aebly placed War Painter in an ideal stalking position early, keeping her inside, covered, and close enough to remain within striking distance as the leader carried the field through fractions of 23.65 and 46.90.
Aebly stayed patient down the backstretch and into the far turn. When Fortyfive-seventy launched a move from the back near the five-sixteenths pole, Aebly asked War Painter to advance with the race, shifting her off the fence and into clear running by the quarter pole.
Turning for home, Takemetothebeach still held the lead, but War Painter had become the clear danger. Set down in the four path, she continued to grind into contention and stayed after the favourite through the lane. By the sixteenth pole, she had worn her down, then drew away late to win by 1 3/4 lengths in a final time of 1:45.51.
Trainer Kevin Attard credited War Painter for “being so honest and always doing the work.”
The win moved War Painter’s career record to 5-6-4 from 21 starts, with $372,669 USD in earnings. Her final eSpeed of 95 was the second-highest figure of her career and her best since late 2023.
The performance was a clear example of a seasoned race mare doing exactly what was asked of her: securing the right trip, responding when called upon, and finishing with enough determination to reel in a dangerous favourite.