Baby Watch: My Dear, Victoria Stakes and More at Woodbine

Nearly 40 juveniles have been entered in four races at Woodbine this weekend including two added-money races, the My Dear and Victoria Stakes.

The stars of the future begin to appear in the summer months and there could be a few of them in action this weekend.

SATURDAY

The $125,000 My Dear Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs on the Tapeta has attracted nine fillies and each of them won their only, or most recent, start.

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BULLET will be favoured for D J Stable and Mark Casse as she won the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies Stakes first time out in May at Gulfstream Park on turf. The 2 1/4 length win from off the pace was visually impressive and the Kentucky-bred by War Front has had four good workout times at Woodbine since shipping north.

There are four other invaders including OBLIGING, who was 1-to-5 in her career debut at Monmouth on June 1 and won by 4 lengths with a 75 Beyer Speed Figure. The Munnings filly is trained by Jorge Delgado for AMO Racing USA.

The lone Ontario-bred in the field is SOUPERGIRL, recently purchased privately off the debut win by Mark Cornett (one half of C2 Thoroughbreds which won the Schuylerville Stakes at Saratoga on Thursday with The Queens M G) and California-based Agave Racing Stable. owned by Mark Martinez. Soupergirl, by Souper Speedy from My Pal Ariana, won her opener by a head with a 69 Beyer Figure for Northern Dawn Stable and trainer Krista Cole. Martin Drexler is now the trainer of the bay filly.

Race 5 on Saturday, nestled in the first Pick 5 and Pick 4 wagers, is a maiden special weight at 5 1/2 furlongs and most are first-time starters. Bettors will have a fun time sorting out this field but here are some of the contenders:

Sure to get attention are (1) FOXTASTIC, a homebred for LNJ Foxwoods by Speightstown who has some quick workout times, SKYLIGHT CAPER, by Souper Speedy, was the fourth highest-priced yearling in Canada last year at $115,000 and has had some strong prep times for Canuck Racing and Terra Racing, CRYSTAL VISIONS, a Bee Jersey filly bred in Ontario by Charles Fipke, was plucked out of the March Ocala Breeders’ Sale for $45,000 after an impressive pre-sale workout, and will start for Stuart Simon and Brent McLellan, and BRIGHT SUNSHINE is by the exciting young sire War of Will and she debuts for Gary Barber.

SUNDAY

The $125,000 Victoria Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs has a small field of six but some intriguing babies. The Mark Casse-trained pair of MENSA ($740,000 purchase April 29 from a one-horse digital sale) and INTO DIAMONDS, debut winner at Keeneland on turf, will be the top contenders.

Mensa, by Complexity – Lady Halite by Medaglia d’Oro, was a $135,000 yearling purchase by D J Stable and the colt won his debut on April 12 by three lengths in a quick 51 4/5 for 4 1/2 furlongs at Gulfstream Park. He was then sold in a Fasig-Tipton Digital sale – he was the only offering, and after a bidding war, was bought by John Stewart’s Resolute Racing for a record $740,000 for a digital sale.

The colt raced a few days later in the Kentucky Juvenile Stakes at Churchill but finished sixth. He adds Lasix on Sunday at Woodbine.

Race 5 is a maiden race at 5 1/2 furlongs and several who have a start under their belt will be well supported including Ivan Dalos’ DIALING ARAGORN who was second in both starts.

Of the beginners, GROOT has been noticeable on the worktab for trainer Kevin Attard. The Collected colt is an X-Men Racing IV and Madaket Stables’ youngster bred by Anderson Farms.

The third most expensive yearling in Canada, SCORCHING, has drawn the far outside for owners Paul Braverman and Timothy Pinch. The son of Mo Town was a $120,000 purchase from the CTHS Ontario sale and Huntington Stud Farm bred him.

Nathan Squires, who is a sharp hand with two-year-olds, has GOTME GOOD in the field and this is an Ontario-bred colt by Practical Joke who has impressive workout times. Jim Dandy Stables bred the bay who is owned by Kathy Wallace.