Moonlit Promise adds Bessarabain S. (G2) to resume

Moonlit Promise scored her second straight graded stakes win on Sunday at Woodbine when the 4-year-old Malibu Moon filly took the $175,000 Bessarabian S. (G2) by a head over Scotty’s Model.

Winner of the Ontario Fashion S. (G3) a month ago, Moonlit Promise was tagged the 8-5 favorite in the Bessarabian’s seven-horse field. Right in the mix early, she tracked in second just to the outside of Perdona through the first five furlongs. Surging to the lead at the top of the stretch, Moonlit Promise held off a host of challengers to stop the timer in an excellent 1:21.79.

“She’s just a really exciting filly,” said trainer Josie Carroll. “She’s a very tough filly. Billy O’Connor, my exercise rider, does a great job keeping her under control. She’s strong, but she’s not silly. She just wants to go do it. She just loves to run and that’s what she wants to do.”

Moonlit Promise now boasts six career wins to go along with a pair of runner-up finishes from nine starts. Going undefeated this season, she has boosted her lifetime bankroll to $332,702 for breeder Hill ‘n Dale Equine Holdings Inc. and co-owner Windsor Boys Racing.

Moonlit Promise is a daughter of Smart Surprise, who is a half-sister to five-time Grade 1 winner Court Vision.

Perennial top-10 sire Malibu Moon is enjoying another banner year in 2017 with 148 individual winners, 59 repeat winners, 22 stakes horses and 4 Grade 1 winners this year.