What is the Ontario Colleen Stakes?
The Ontario Colleen Stakes is a Grade III Thoroughbred race held annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Contested at 1 mile on the turf exclusively for 3-year-old fillies, it is one of the most important turf prep races for sophomore fillies on the Canadian racing calendar and a key summer benchmark for the division targeting the Woodbine Oaks and the fall championship circuit. Inaugurated in 1979 at Fort Erie Racetrack, the Ontario Colleen moved to Woodbine the following year and has been a fixture of the Canadian stakes season ever since. Trainer Mark Casse has dominated the race in the modern era, winning a remarkable eight times including five consecutive editions from 2017 to 2022 — the most dominant run in the race's history. Patrick Husbands leads all jockeys with five wins. The stakes record of 1:33.32 was set by Leigh Court for Josie Carroll in 2013. Got Stormy, the 2019 American Champion Female Turf Horse, won the Ontario Colleen as a 3-year-old in 2018 before going on to international Group 1 glory.
When is the Ontario Colleen Stakes in 2026?
The 2026 Ontario Colleen Stakes is scheduled for Saturday, July 25 at Woodbine Racetrack on the same card as the Hendrie Stakes and Trillium Stakes. Contested at 1 mile on the turf with a purse of $150,000, the race draws the top 3-year-old fillies in Canada targeting the summer and fall turf championship circuit.
Ontario Colleen Stakes History & Notable Winners
Mark Casse has turned the Ontario Colleen into a personal showcase, winning eight times in the race's modern era. Candy Quest gave Casse and jockey Sihan Civaci a 2025 victory in 1:33.51 for Glassman Racing LLC. Time to Dazzle gave the same connections a 2024 win in 1:33.57 for Tracy Farmer. Mohawk Trail provided the lone non-Casse win of the recent era in 2023, giving trainer Kelsey Danner and jockey Adam Beschizza a 1:34.68 victory for NBS Stable. Live Oak Plantation dominated back-to-back editions with Souper Hoity Toity winning in 2022 under Patrick Husbands in 1:35.01, following Our Flash Drive's 2021 victory under Husbands in 1:34.76 — the same filly who would go on to win the Royal North Stakes in 2023.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Candy Quest | Sihan Civaci | 1:33.51 |
| 2024 | Time to Dazzle | Sihan Civaci | 1:33.57 |
| 2023 | Mohawk Trail | Adam Beschizza | 1:34.68 |
| 2022 | Souper Hoity Toity | Patrick Husbands | 1:35.01 |
| 2021 | Our Flash Drive | Patrick Husbands | 1:34.76 |
The Ontario Colleen Stakes is one of the most important 3-year-old filly turf races in Canada and a key stepping stone to the Woodbine Oaks and fall championship events each summer.
