Brazilian Horse of the Year and Group 1 winner JOLIE OLIMPICA (BRZ) was purchased by the late Rick Porter in 2019 following three easy wins to begin her career in her home country. One of those wins was in the Jockey Club Brasiliero (G1) at one mile on the grass.
Through six races in the US for trainer Richard Mandella, the flashy chestnut by Belmont Stakes winner Drosselmeyer, Jolie Olimpica has set and tied a course record at Santa Anita for 5 1/2 furlongs (1:01), won two graded sprints and just missed tot he mighty Rushing Fall in the 2020 Jenny Wiley (G1) at one mile at Keeneland.
Idle since March after a third-place finish against colts in the Grade 3 San Simeon, her second straight race where she was not administered Lasix (Lasix is not allowed on race day in stakes in California), Jolie Olimpica was shipped to trainer Josie Carroll by the Fox Hill Farm team where she will get back on Lasix for the Grade 2 Nassau Stakes this Saturday.
Mandella has always been confident the mare can win at one-mile in North America and the one-turn set up of the one-mile Nassau should play well for the fast mare. Luis Contreras rides.
The field is a good one, however, with 12 entered including inner-turf record setter, ANOTHER TIME, who missed by a neck in the Nassau last season. The Munnings mare, owned by Hoolie Racing Stable and trained by Barb Minshall won her season debut in fine style June 12.
She’s always been a nice filly,” said Minshall, who won back-to-back editions (1995-96) of the Nassau with Bold Ruritana. “I was expecting her to run well. She had been ready to run for quite a while before that. She was definitely ready to run. She gets over the turf very well and she does everything right. She actually stumbled a little bit coming out of the gate, so it was a really nice recovery and effort.”
ABBY HATCHER, coming off a win in the Grade 3 Chicago Stakes on the all weather track at Arlington Park on June 26 is also a confirmed turf miler. The filly is an Irish bred by Acclamation owned by David Meah and Medallion Racing and trained by Anna Meah.
ABSCOND is returning to the site of her biggest career win, the Grade 1 Natalma Stakes in 2019. Apogee Racing’s Blame gal has not won since but has been close in a litany of graded events. Two starts back she posted a 94 Beyer Speed Figure according to Daily Racing Form when a close fourth in the Grade 2 Distaff Turf Mile at Churchill Downs. She had a wide trip in the recent Grade 1 Just a Game Stakes at Belmont.
The Nassau, worth $175,000, is one of two stakes races on the grass this weekend at Woodbine. The overnight Niagara Stakes on Sunday at 1 1/8 miles also features a top Minshall trainee in graded stakes winner ADMIRALTY PIER.
The Niagara field is also loaded with MARCH TO THE ARCH, winner of the Grade 2 King Edward, likely to be favoured for the red-hot Live Oak Plantation. The 6-year-old came off the layoff to be second to Horse of the Year Mighty Heart in the Grade 3 Dominion Day on Tapeta on July 1 but he is a much better grass horse. And Breeders’ Stakes winner BELICHICK, a recent allowance winner on the Tapeta, will be happy to be back on turf for the Niagara.
Incidentally, the Niagara is the former name of the Northern Dancer Stakes (G1). The race was formerly held at Fort Erie and was won by stars such as Belle Geste, One for All and Bridle Path and it was moved to Woodbine in 1985.
NASSAU STAKES – GRADE 2, $175,000, Race 6 Woodbine, July 24
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Abby Hatcher – Kazushi Kimura – Anne Meah
2 – Another Time – David Moran – Barb Minshall
3 – Tappitty Tappitty – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse
4 – Saratoga Vision – Jeffery Alderson – Alexander Patykewich
5 – Abscond – Justin Stein – Eddie Kenneally
6 – Our Secret Agent – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Mark Casse
7 – Crystal Glacier – Shaun Bridgmohan – Mark Casse
8 – Sunset Kiss – Gary Boulanger – J. Kent Sweezey
9 – Honey Cake – Antonio Gallardo – Jonathan Thomas
10 – Jolie Olimpica – Luis Contreras – Josie Carroll
11 – Royal Wedding – Simon Husbands – Nathan Squires
12 – Merveilleux – Rafael Hernandez – Kevin Attard
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