by Phil McSween for Woodbine
This story originally appeared here.
Previously undefeated Luster redeemed herself in style, to win Saturday’s (June 27) $150,000 Grade 3 Selene Stakes at Woodbine.
Making her Woodbine 2-turn main track debut, the Ontario-bred grey-roan daughter of Knicks Go, broke alertly from post position 2, tucking in nicely along the rail, in the second flight, as the field of seven navigated the first turn.
Kentucky-invader Tulip cleared and assumed command into the backstretch ahead of Classic Move through an opening quarter-mile in :23.30. Ridden by Fraser Aebly for the third time in her fourth career start, Luster (one of four grey-roan fillies in the field) tracked in fourth, just inside of Lake Louise.
Confidently ridden by Aebly, Luster advanced up the rail into third position, through an opening half-mile in :47.84 and moved comfortably up the fence into 2nd through opening 6-furlong split in 1:12.83.
Inside the 1/4 pole, Aebly angled his filly outside of fellow grey Tulip, striking the front inside the 3/16ths pole, bursting away to win in driving fashion by 1 3/4 lengths in a final time of 1:44.06.
Katie’s Grace (35-1) edged Dixie Law by a nose in a spirited race for place. Pacesetter Tulip was fourth.
The Selene triumph was sweet vindication for Luster, after she suffered her first loss as the favourite in the 7-furlong Ruling Angel Stakes, finishing third behind winner Dixie Law and Meilani.
Bred in Ontario by Ravi Sugrim and Joannie Dass, Luster won her only start at age 2, dusting maiden special weight company, over Woodbine’s E.P. Taylor Turf Course by 6 1/4 lengths.
She opened her 3-year-old campaign in a route turf allowance at Keeneland, powering clear to win by five lengths with John Velazquez in the irons.
Her only loss came next out in the Ruling Angel. Aebly gave his filly a few congratulatory taps on the shoulder after the Selene win.
“She’s got quite a turn of foot, maybe a Ferrari,” said Aebly when asked about his filly firing in the stretch.
“I truly think she really wants to go two turns. We watched it on the grass. She was very impressive at Keeneland.”
I was sitting pretty handy the whole way, she’s a pretty nice filly.”
Owned by Gainesway Stable and Andrew Rosen, Luster improved to 3-0-1 from 4 career starts and might be headed next to the $500,000 Labatt Woodbine Oaks, presented by Stella Artois on July 19th.
Trainer Josie Carroll has now won three consecutive runnings of the Selene after winning with Serendipity in 2025 and Sabatini in 2024. Carroll also won the race in 2016 with Gamble’s Ghost.
Luster opened at 3-1 on the morning line, was bet down to 7-5 and paid $4.90 for the win.
