Wake Up Maggie, a 2-year-old daughter of Silent Name(Jpn) – Maeve, by Valid Wager, looks to navigate her way to a first added-money score in Saturday’s $100,000 South Ocean Stakes, at Woodbine.
Owned by Oh Em Gee Stable and trained by Harold Ladouceur, Wake Up Maggie arrives at the 1 1/16-mile main track event for Ontario-sired 2-year-old fillies off a rough voyage in her most recent test.
Sent off at 9-5 in a six-furlong race over the Woodbine Tapeta on October 9, the dark bay, bred in Ontario by Andy Stronach, endured a tough trip, but was able to salvage a third-place finish, 7 ¼-lengths behind winner Artie’s Princess.
Wake Up Maggie came into the race off a solid runner-up performance to multiple stakes winner Owlette (whom she’ll meet again on Saturday) in the Victorian Queen on September 21 at the Toronto oval.
“She was bumped and got squeezed down on the inside,” noted Ladouceur of the October 9 race. “Justin [Stein, jockey] was lucky to get her out and get what he got for us. They got away on her down the backside – they sort of scooted off on her. She worked to get up there, but it was too much work.”
Ladouceur, who won the Grade 3 Selene Stakes in 2014 with Paladin Bay, is pleased with how his freshman filly has progressed over her five lifetime starts, all contested at Woodbine. After finishing second in her June debut, at five panels on the Tapeta, Wake Up Maggie broke her maiden at the same distance and same surface in her next start, on July 6. She was fourth in her first added-money engagement, finishing two-lengths behind Owlette in the Shady Well Stakes on July 27.
The South Ocean represents Wake Up Maggie’s first time trying two turns.
“We wanted to test her out to see if she can do it and we think that she can,” said Ladouceur. “Justin said if she settles in, it shouldn’t be a problem. He’s been on her for the breezes and has taken her around a couple of times galloping, and he said she handled it well.”
Having Stein in the saddle will certainly boost the filly’s chances.
Last weekend, the jockey, just one win shy of 40 on the season, swept the stakes features. On Saturday, Stein, who returned to riding this year after a three-year absence, led Dotted Line to a 49-1 upset score in the Frost King Stakes, and then guided favoured Sav to victory in Sunday’s La Prevoyante Stakes. On Friday, Stein and Ladouceur teamed up with Sandretti, an Ontario-bred 3-year-old son of Head Chopper, to kick off the parade to the winner’s circle.
“Justin had an awesome weekend. It was nice that we started it off with Sandretti.”
Wake Up Maggie has given Ladouceur ample indication she’s ready to go on Saturday.
“You’ve got to like her. If you see the way she is in the barn, you’d love her. She’s just this bundle of dynamite. She’s pushy. She’s like, ‘I want to go, and I want to go now.’ She has an attitude that I really like. I like horses like that… she’s kind of demanding. We’re pretty happy coming into this one.”
Last year, G. G. Racing Stables’ Preferred Guest won the South Ocean in a time of 1:46.10. Steve Bahen is the only jockey in the history of the race to win consecutive runnings. In 2001, he teamed with Grace Phil to take all the spoils, and one year later, he rode Nipissing to victory.
The South Ocean is slated as race three on Saturday’s 11-race card. First post time is 1:05 p.m. Fans can also watch and wager on all the action via HPIbet.com.
$100,000 SOUTH OCEAN STAKES
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Bambarra Bay – Christopher Husbands – Michael Mattine
2 – Owlette – Nik Juarez – Wesley Ward
3 – She’s a Dream – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Josie Carroll
4 – November Fog – Patrick Husbands – Sarah Ritchie
5 – Gun Society – Kazushi Kimura – Roger Attfield
6 – Wake Up Maggie – Justin Stein – Harold Ladouceur
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