The Nassau Stakes is one of five graded stakes races July 1 on an action-packed card at Woodbine that also features the Grade 2, $200,000 Highlander Stakes and a pair of races that serve as local steppingstones to the King’s Plate and the Woodbine Oaks.

The Nassau has become increasingly important in recent years with Canadian stars like Lexie Lou, Starship Jubilee, and Lady Speightspeare winning in in the last seven editions, and this year’s edition drew a field of nine older females headlined by 2022 Canadian Horse of the Year Moira.

1. Sister Lou Ann (20-1 morning-line odds): Figures to be a pace presence but is winless in four starts since a 1 ¼-length victory in the Martha Washington Stakes in June 2022 at Gulfstream Park. Eligible to take a step forward here at a price in her second start of the year, but tough to see her winning.

Jockey: Edgard Zayas; Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.

2. Millie Girl (10-1): Has never finished outside the top three in six starts with three wins to her credit. Enters off a troubled third-place finish in her stakes debut in the Grade 2 Royal North Stakes June 3. Expect her to outrun what figures to be high odds.

Jockey: Declan Carroll; Trainer: Catherine Day Phillips

3. Scotish Star (3-1): Ships north for Hall of Fame trainer off three straight runner-up finishes in stakes races, including the Grade 2 Hillsborough Stakes in March at Tampa Bay Downs. A win contender who could be in front at the top of the stretch.

Jockey: Reylu Gutierrez; Trainer: Todd Pletcher

4. Moira (2-1): Won three of five starts last year, including a seven-length win against males in the Queen’s Plate, en route to 2022 Canadian Horse of the Year honors. Although officially unplaced in two starts on grass, she ran second in the Grade 1 E. P. Taylor Stakes last fall but was disqualified to eighth for interference. Only other turf race was a fifth in the 2022 Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf. Moira should improve in her second start of the year after finishing second by a neck on the synthetic main track in her 4-year-old debut June 3. The one to beat.

Jockey: Kazushi Kimura; Trainer: Kevin Attard

5. Devil’s Bit (20-1): Enters off an allowance win June 10 on the turf at Woodbine in her 4-year-old now. Speed figures indicate she probably is not fast enough unless she takes a big step forward while stepping up in class.

Jockey: David Moran; Trainer: Roger Attfield

6. Purrfect (12-1): Tries turf for the first time after posting a win and two thirds in her last four starts, all on synthetic surfaces. You could do worse than taking a flier on a well-bred Godolphin homebred, and she has finished third twice in three attempts against stakes competition.

Jockey: Ryan Munger; Trainer: Michael Stidham

Canadian Horse of the Year Moira (Keeneland/Coady Photography)

7. Sweet Enough (6-1): Ran well when second in the Grade 2 Royal North Stakes June 3 and has competed against elite runners over the last nine months, but she has been a bit inconsistent. A top three-finish at a big price might be the ceiling for Sweet Enough.

Jockey: Emma-Jayne Wilson; Trainer: Roger Attfield

8. Fev Rover (4-1): A group stakes winner in France, Fev Rover probably will be the second betting choice behind Moira having won the Grade 2 Canadian Stakes last summer while placing in a Grade 1 and a Grade 2 in her other three North American starts. Returning from a layoff of more than eight months is the big concern, but she is plenty fast and profiles as a serious win candidate.

Jockey: Patrick Husbands; Trainer: Mark Casse

9. Eminent Victor (8-1): Might be overbet because of her trainer, four-time Eclipse Award winner and turf maestro Chad Brown. She has been beaten by 2 1/4 lengths or more in each of her last four starts, albeit against quality competition, including a dud in her season debut. Not for me.

Jockey: Rafael Hernandez; Trainer: Chad Brown

THE PICK: Fev Rover

LIVE LONGSHOT: Millie Girl

SUPERFECTA: 8-4-2-6