A field of 10 to 12 Canadian-bred three-year-old fillies is expected for the 68th WOODBINE OAKS at 1 1/8 miles on Tapeta, Sunday, July 23. Also on Sunday is the key, PLATE TRIAL, also at 1 1/8 miles and the major prep for the King’s Plate on Aug. 20.
The Woodbine Oaks should have an equal amount of speed types and stretch runners and it will be more wide open than last year’s event when Moira crushed her rivals and then went on to win the Plate. As an aside, if graded stakes winner Mission of Joy, based in the US with trainer Graham Motion, or Ancient Peace, a budding star in California, had decided to make the trip to Ontario, they would be strongly favoured.
So, who are the likely competitors in this year’s Oaks? Kevin Attard, who trains Moira, has four fillies pointing to the Oaks including stakes winning speedster Fashionably Fab, smart debut winner Delphia and the mysterious Wickenheiser.
But the favourites are likely to among the trio of TICKER TAPE HOME, the Fury winner, TITO’S CALLING, third in the Grade 3 Selene, and the Chad Brown trained BIG BRASS BED.
Possible entrants for the Oaks
TICKER TAPE HOME – $625,000 purchase from Sam-Son farms, she won the Fury Stakes at 7 furlongs on the lead all the way. Three previous route race attempts came on grass and dirt, poor results. Mark Casse trains for Live Oak.
BIG BRASS BED – Peter Brant owns this gal named for a famous line in a Bob Dylan song. Chad Brown trains. Filly won a route race on turf and recently had a bad trip in a long turf race.
TITO’S CALLING – Third in Grade 3 Selene Stakes behind two US-breds, 4th in Fury Stakes and a winner on May 5. Mike DePaulo/Ross Armata Jr. trainee had big workout on July 16 in 47.20 for half a mile.
WICKENHEISER – Kevin Attard trainee has had a start-and-stop year for training. Was a good second behind the colt Simcoe in 2023 opener. “Very talented filly who has yet to move forward. A few setbacks this year but I was pleased with her first start.”
FASHIONABLY FAB – Fast filly “had a super workout” July 6, 114.60 for 6 furlongs – then came back and sizzled 5 furlongs in 59.40 yesterday. Three straight sprint wins last year including Shady Well but a total guess at 1 1/8 miles.
FORTYFIVESEVENTY – owned and trained by Barbara Monshall, ‘the longer the better’ said the trainer. Filly was 4th in Grade 3 Selene Stakes, just over 4 lengths behind Tito’s Calling
ELYSIAN FIELD – Second to Ticker Tape in the Fury Stakes and maiden winner in April. A question at the distance.
ME AND MY SHADOW – Mark Casse trainee was third in the Fury Stakes and last year was second in the Princess Elizabeth. By Violence.
DELPHIA – strong debut win at 1 1/16 miles for X Men Racing -2/SF Bloodstock. One of four for Kevin Attard. “She had a very good workout [July 12].”
COURTLY RO – Ninth in Fury Stakes and unplaced in a recent grass race. “Her Princess Elizabeth race [fifth beaten four lengths] wasn’t too bad.”
GREAT KATE – Won her season debut in a maiden race at 1 1/16 miles with 61 Beyer Speed Figure, by Souper Speedy
PLATE TRIAL is a critical race for Champion 2-year-old of 2022, PHILIP MY DEAR
Local King’s Plate early favourite STANLEY HOUSE could have as many as 10 horses to beat in the PLATE TRIAL on Sunday. The impressive dark bay colt by Army Mule has Beyer Figures of 84, 85 and 85 from his last three races. He has been doing well in recent workouts including the 1:00.40 for 5 furlongs yesterday. Mike DePaulo/substitute Ross Armata Jr. are the trainers.
Queenston winner and Marine Stakes second-place finisher KAUKOKAIPUU was back on the worktab Sunday (yesterday) with a 5 furlong prep in 1:01.60. The colt has raced four times this year for trainer Ted Holder, who did not nominate the colt to the Trial but could supplement.
PHILIP MY DEAR, winner of the Cup and Saucer last year on the grass, is one of several heading for the Trial for Kevin Attard.
The son of Silent Name (Jpn) had a big workout on July 8 with another Trial hopeful, MOON LANDING, as he went 6 furlongs in 1:11.80.
“They both worked well,” said Attard. “Philip doesn’t want to stop and he has matured mentally. He might prefer turf but he’s in good order.” Moon Landing will have the blinkers come off for the Trial. The Nyquist colt recently trailed all the way in the Queenston, ending up 12th.
Attard also has maiden winner TIBURON as a possibility for the Trial and also could wheel back ENJOYTHESILENT, who was a troubled third in an allowance/optional race on July 7.
COOL KISS is another Trial starter for Depaulo and Stanley House’s owners, John and Diana Russell. Also owned by Newtop Stable, Cool Kiss, by Kantharos, was 6th in the Queenston and he won a seven furlong Tapeta race before that.
PARAMOUNT PRINCE will try and stretch out for the Trial for Mark Casse and jockey Patrick Husbands. The Society’s Chairman gelding forced the pace all the way in the Queenston and stayed on to be second behind Kaikokaipuu.
TWIN CITY, the Queenston winner who flopped in the Marine Stakes (G3), had a big workout yesterday in 59.40 for 5 furlongs and he could bounce back for trainer Stuart Simon.
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