Seaway Stakes 2013 Contenders at Woodbine Racetrack

Dave Bond | OTB Writer

Las Vegas, NV - Woodbine Racetrack racetrack in Toronto, Ontario will play host to the Grade 3 Seaway Stakes this Saturday, August 31. Fillies and mares three years old and upward will take to Woodbine's All Weather Track and sprint seven furlongs for a purse of $150,000.

The Seaway Stakes has attracted a field of six older females to go in race 8 on Woodbine's Saturday card. Post time is 4:17 PM. Here is a brief look into the past performances of all six combatants for this grade 3 stakes.

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2013 Seaway Stakes Race Favorite Entries

Nikkis Smartypants - has six career starts with four wins and a second place finish for trainer Robert Tiller - her only off-the-board finish being a sixth in her first stakes action - the minor La Lorgnette Stakes on this track last September 23. She was out of action nearly nine months and returned June 15 with an Allowance Optional Claiming score and came back last time out with her most impressive performance to date - a win in the Grade 3 Royal North at 8-1 odds on turf ahead of Roxy Gap on this track July 28. She has been mighty impressive in her career and should challenge for top spot again Saturday. She starts from the far outside post and will have Rosa Da Silva in the saddle to try to make it 3-for-3 this year on her more familiar synthetic surface.

Roxie Gap - Two-time Sovereign Award winner as Canada`s outstanding older female Roxy Gap, the defending runner-up in this race made her first start of 2013 July 28 for trainer Mark Casse and finished fourth after fading in the Grade 3 Royal North Stakes. She ended her 2012 campaign in disappointing fashion - an eighth in the Grade 3 Bessarabian Stakes November 24 after a third in the Grade 3 Ontario Fashion Stakes three weeks earlier. She placed in eight of nine starts in 2012 however including three graded stakes wins and will be looking to start a new impressive streak Saturday. She is by far the most accomplished entry in the field and should certainly be in the conversation for the Seaway. She will carry the top weight of 124 pounds from post 4 on her favorite surface Saturday.

Seaway Stakes 2013 | Remaining Contenders

Youcan'tcatchme - has 10 career starts - all on this track and rides a two race win streak into the Seaway. Last time out was a wire-to-wire win as slight favorite in the minor Etobicoke Handicap August 4 after a nearly nine month layoff. Prior to being forced to the sideline she had an Allowance Optional Claiming score and a respectable second in her only graded stakes action - the Grade 2 Ontario Fashion Stakes. She should bring the speed Saturday.

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Strike the Moon - has been involved in some big races in the past. In October she finished a very good second in the Grade 3 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes at Keeneland and went on to race the Breeders' Cup Fill & Mare Sprint where she finished tenth. Since that time she has four starts and has place in just one - last time out with a second in the minor Etobicoke Handicap behind Youcan'tcatchme. She has 25 career starts with four wins, eight seconds and three third place finishes and enters the Seaway in so-so form.

Acting Naughty - has four starts this year for trainer Donald MacRae and has two wins including the Grade 3 Whimsical Stakes on this track April 28 and the minor Sweet Briar Stakes July 6. She also had a disappointing fifth in the Grade 3 Hendrie this year and is coming off a third behind Youcan'tcatchme and Strike the Moon in the minor Etobicoke Handicap here August 4. She has been fairly impressive this year and could be the surprise of the Seaway.

Mekong Delta - has 16 career starts with just two wins and Saturday marks her first ever stakes race. She is coming off one of those wins - an Allowance score by 2 3/4 lengths here August 4 to follow an eleventh in a similar race June 29 and an OK second in May. She has placed in four of her last six starts but takes an enormous leap up in competition Saturday.


2013 Seaway Stakes Entries & Odds

Race 8 on Woodbine Racetrack's Saturday card with a Post Time of 4:17 PM.

Entry Horse Jockey Trainer ML Odds
1 Mekong Delta J. Bridgmohan M. Mattine
20-1
2 Youcan'tcatchme J. Stein S. Di Pasquale
2-1
3 Strike the Moon J. Campbell M. Trombetta
4-1
4 Roxy Gap L. Contreras M. Casse
5-2
5 Acting Naughty T. Pizarro D. MacRae
6-1
6 Nikkis Smartypants E. Da Silva R. Tiller
3-1