The top race for Canadian-bred sophomore fillies, the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks, will be run for the 66th time this Sunday, August 1 on the Civic holiday weekend. The Oaks is three weeks before the most famous race on the Canadian calendar, the Queen’s Plate.
The three-year-old crop based in Canada has yet to distinguish itself and the Oaks field, going into the 1 1/8 mile race, will be on the weak side.
But perhaps the winner of the Oaks will become a star and maybe head to the Plate and meet current favourites Stephen, Harlan Estate, Dance Some Mo, Safe Conduct and Keep Grinding.
The proven fillies for a route distance are MUNNYFOR RO (Munnings), owned by Rajendra Maharajh’s Raroma Stable and Breeze Easy’s CURLIN’S CATCH (Curlin) who will be vying for favoritism with the speed, undefeated filly LORENA (Souper Speedy).
MUNNYFOR RO, bred by Mark Dodson of Daybar Ltd. returned to Woodbine July 10 for the Grade 3 Selene Stakes and was a clear second between two American-bred fillies. In her previous 2021 races since January with trainer Brian Lynch, Munnyfor Ro had won her maiden at 1 1/8 miles on turf, defeating Third Draft, another Oaks eligible who would be a top contender if she were to run back two weeks after a win this weekend.
Last year at Woodbine with trainer Kevin Attard the filly was unplaced in two Tapeta races. Her last three Beyer Figures were 75, 77 and 76.
Kevin Attard sent her out for a five furlong workout on July 22, 1:02 1/5.
Her dam Repartee, a daughter of Distorted Humor, bred by Darley, has produced only one other foal to race. Repartee was unplaced in two races and is out of stakes winner Dubai Dancer. Trinidadian Maharajh bought Munnyfor Ro for $65,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September sale.
CURLIN’S CATCH was bred by Sam-Son Farms and that immediately means top fillies and Oaks wins. Sam-Son has won seven Oaks but as the farm and stable has begun to sell off horses, Curlin’s Catch was a sales yearling. She was bought for $180,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September sale and then pinhooked for $430,000 by deMeric sales at the Ocala Spring Sale last year.
Breeze Easy of Mike Hall and Sam Ross (breezeeasy.com) is just five years old and is prominent buying high prized yearlings and juveniles. Since Mark Casse trains for Breeze Easy, Ontario racing has seen a lot of Breeze Easy horses and this year the stable has won two stakes: the Marine (G3) with Easy Time and the Woodstock with Outadore (trained by Wesley Ward).
Curlin’s Catch was odds on for her career debut at Woodbine last October and was second to the colt British Royalty. She was then fifth in the Princess Elizabeth, But this winter in Florida the bay won her maiden and then the Suncoast Stakes (Tampa Bay Downs). She earned an 80 Beyer Speed Figure in that win. The filly was unable to keep moving to the top of the American filly ranks, however, landing fifth in both the Davone Dale (G2) and Ashland Stakes (G1).
She was sent back north and she closed ground well to be third in the Fury Stakes behind Lorena. It was her first race back on Lasix since her maiden win.
Curlin’s Catch’s dam Catch The Thrill, a daughter of Horse of the Year, A.P. Indy, was Champion Two-Year-Old Filly in Canada, and she is out of Catch The Ring, Champion Three-Year-Old Filly in Canada. The third dam, the Halo mare, Radiant Ring, captured no less than nine black-type events, among the Matchmaker Stakes (G2).
LORENA has been perfect in her career and she put up an 81 Beyer Figure in her 2021 debut, an allowance win. She won the Fury at seven furlongs over a closing Astrological and Curlin’s Catch. Lorena is owned by Brent and Russ McLellan, former jockey Gerry Olguin and trainer Stuart Simon.
She is by Souper Speedy, a seven furlong specialist and son of Indian Charlie. He is also the sire of Oaks starter IL MALOCCHIO. Lorena’, bred by Dr. Liam Gannon, is out of the unraced mare Negotiable, by Hat Trick (Jpn). The mare’s first foal to race is route winner Meet Michelle.
ASTROLOGICAL, who would have to be supplemented to the Oaks, is a serious contender based on her good rally in the Fury Stakes for Gary Barber and Eclipse Thoroughbreds. The Casse trainee is a half sister to Woodbine Oaks winner DIXIE MOON.
THIRD DRAFT, like her male stablemate WEYBURN (Plate favourite) is US based and she recently won a turf race two weeks ago. MISS MARIE just won her maiden at 1 1/16 miles with a big rally and an 81 Beyer Figure for trainer Breeda Hayes.
EMMELINE set the pace in that race and was second, earning an 80 Beyer. IL MALOCCHIO was a stakes winner at two and second in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes, third in Curlin’s Catch’s Suncoast Stakes, JILL MARIE is unbeaten in sprints and Lady Moonshine is a maiden.
Entries for the Oaks will be drawn Thursday.
TOP WOODBINE OAKS CONTENDERS from Canadian Thoroughbred
- MUNNYFOR RO – 2nd Selene (G3) 75, 77, 76 – Munnings filly trained by Kevin Attard
- CURLIN’S CATCH – Third in Fury Stakes, won Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, 72,61,62
- LORENA – undefeated, by Souper Speedy, all sprint wins, 76, 81, 76
- ASTROLOGICAL – would need to be supplemented, 2nd Fury Stakes, by Malibu Moon, 73, 68 (maiden)
- THIRD DRAFT – won at Saratoga July 17, 81, 79, 77; just won an allowance race on turf July 17 81, 79, 77
- MISS MARIE – big Beyer of 81 in maiden win; by Carpe Diem 81
- EMMELINE – second to Miss Marie after setting the pace, by Violence 80, 68, 67
- IL MALOCCHIO – 2nd Princess Elizabeth in 2020, soft 4th in Fury, by Souper Speedy 64, 74, 58
- JILLI MARIE – like Lorena, unbeaten in sprints, by Dynamic Sky 70, 69, 57
- LADY MOONSHINE – maiden by Milwaukee Brew 66, 71
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