SAHLABIYA, owned by Shadwell Stable and trained by Chad Brown, is expected at Woodbine for this Sunday’s $500,000 Woodbine Oaks, the premier race for Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies.
Sold by David Anderson’s Anderson Farms as a yearling for $1.6 million, the filly has been second and third in two career races on the turf at Belmont Park.
“Chad’s guiding us on this,” said Jonny Smyth, a farm manager at Shadwell, Kentucky. “We’re excited. We think very highly of her and for her to have a chance to come back to Canada where she was foaled and run the Oaks is phenomenal.”
By Medaglia D’Oro from the Tapit mare Orchard Beach, Sahlabiya finished third, beaten less than a length (78 Beyer Figure), in her career debut at 1 1/16 miles on grass. The winner, Canisy, won an allowance race at Saratoga last week. The filly then led for most of a 1 1/8 mile turf race on June 17 but was passed by Bobby Flay’s impressive Dubawi filly Contemporary Art. She was second and earned a 77 Beyer Figure.
Sahlabiya (‘pretty girl’) had a strong workout at Saratoga on the dirt July 16 of 47.60.
The field for the 1 1/8 mile Oaks should be between seven and nine fillies with stakes winner MOIRA, winner of the Fury Stakes with a 74 Beyer Figure, one of the favourites. The Plate Trial is expected to include Causin Mayhem, Dancin in Da’Nile, Hall of Dreams, Justin’s Way, Shamateur, Sir for Sure and The Minkster.
Nine Possible for WOODBINE OAKS FIELD
Moira
Sahlabiya
Sister Seagull
Pioneer’s Edge
McCool’s Girl
Strega
Curlin Candy
Souper Flashy
My Girl Sky
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