Canadian Stakes 2014 at Woodbine

Dave Bond | OTB Writer

Las Vegas, NV - The Grade 2 Canadian Stakes comes our way from Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario this Sunday, September 14. Fillies and mares three years old and upward will be after the winner's share of the $300,000 purse when they go 1 1/8 miles on Woodbine's turf track. An automatic berth into the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf is also on the line this weekend.

A field of 10 older females will take to the track in the Canadian Stakes - race 9 on Woodbine's busy Sunday card. Post time is 5:12 PM. Let's take a look into the past performances of all 10 entries for this Grade 2 stakes.

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2014 Canadian Stakes Race Favorite Entries

Lexie Lou - enters on a terrific three race win streak - the minor Wonder Where Stakes August 10, the Queen's Plate July 6 against the boys and a terrific 4 1/2 length win in the Woodbine Oaks here June 15 for trainer Mark Casse. She now has six wins, two seconds and two third place finishes in 13 career starts and is by far the hottest of all the Canadian Stakes entries. She steps into graded stakes company for the first time Sunday as the one to beat with Patrick Husbands in the saddle from post 2.

La Tia - defending fourth place finisher in this race placed in her first three starts this year highlighted by a win by a stunning 6 1/4 lengths in the Grade 3 Arlington Matron Stakes in front running style May 24 which was followed by a third in the minor Lincoln Heritage Handicap on that same track June 21. Last time out was an OK fourth in the Grade 1 Beverly D. Stakes at Arlington Park August 16. La Tia has 20 career starts with eight wins, a second and four third place finishes and won her last start on this track. She has looked very competitive in every race this year, has the most wins of any entry in the field and should be a factor from gate 5 with Justin Stein in the reins.

Canadian Stakes 2014 | Remaining Contenders

Solid Appeal - Reade Baker trained multiple graded stakes winner and Sovereign Award winner as Canada's top turf female won three of six starts last year including the Grade 3 Nassau Stakes in upset fashion and the Grade 2 Dance Smartly Stakes July 7 - both at Woodbine. She went on to a couple of disappointing results in graded action before she finished 2013 with an OK third in November in the Grade 3 Cardinal Handicap at Churchill Downs. Her first start this year was a fifth in the Grade 3 Doubledogdare Stakes at Keeneland April 18 which was followed by a nice repeat win in the Grade 3 Nassau Stakes May 25 and a fifth last time out in the Grade 1 Diana Stakes at Saratoga July 19. Solid Appeal has placed in just two of her last six starts but a win two back certainly has her going in the right direction. Jesse Campbell rides the 122 pound highweight from the outside post Sunday.

Deceptive Vision - Malcolm Pierce trained filly raced in stakes company for the first time May 25 and finished a decent third behind Solid Appeal in the Grade 2 Nassau Stakes on this track and followed that with a nice second last time out in the Grade 2 Dance Smartly Stakes on this track July 6. Before that she won three of four career starts - finishing second in the other. She had two straight Allowance Optional Claiming scores in February - the last coming at Fair Grounds February 22. She is lightly raced but successful when on the track. Eurico Rosa Da Silva has the mount from post 3.

Skylander Girl - enters having finished second in four straight races including the OLG Algoma Stakes last time out, the minor Wonder Where Stakes August 10 and the minor Ontario Damsel Stakes in July - all on this track. She won two minor stakes races in 2013 - her only career victories and posted a fifth in her only graded stakes action - the Grade 2 Natalma Stakes here a year ago. Skylander Girl has 14 career starts with two wins five seconds and a third place finish and will start from the rail with Emile Ramsammy aboard.

Canadian Stakes betting online at Woodbine Racetrack with OffTrackBetting.com

Royal Fury - Brian Lynch trained mare has 25 career starts with five wins, three seconds and six third place finishes. She is coming off a pair good seconds - in the Grade 3 Ontario Matron Stakes here last time out and in the minor Trillium Stakes here June 14 after an Allowance score on this track in May and a fourth in the Powder Break Stakes at Gulfstream in April. Royal Fury looks to be in the best form of her career off a win and two second place finishes and will line up in gate 5 with John Velazquez in the irons.

Savvy Hester - Ricky Griffith trained filly has just three wins, eight seconds and four third place finishes in 21 career starts - just three previous graded stakes starts resulted in a sixth in the Grade 3 Ontario Colleen Stakes here back in August, 2013 a fourth in the Grade 2 Nassau on this track in May of this year and a third in the Grade 3 Dance Smartly Stakes here July 6. Last time out was a second in the minor Flaming Page Stakes on this track August 23. She has placed in five of seven starts this year and is trending upward ahead of this weekend. Savvy Hester starts from gate 4 with Justin Stein aboard.

Meri Shika - French bred filly made her first start in North America in September and finished ninth in the 2013 Canadian Stakes on this track after one win, two seconds and two third place finishes in 11 career starts at home. She didn't place in her next five starts but broke through with a nice win last time out in the minor Flaming Page Stakes on this track August 23. Meri Shika hadn't won since August, 2012 before that race - she will enter with a little optimism this week. She lines up from gate 6 with Emma-Jayne Wilson in the reins.

Dance Again - has three wins, three seconds and three third place finishes in 13 career starts for trainer Malcolm Pierce. She enters off an ugly twelfth in the Grade 3 Modesty Handicap July 12 after an Allowance Optional Claiming score, a fifth in a similar race and an OK third to end her 2013 campaign - in the Grade 2 Mrs. revere Stakes at Churchill Downs in November. She has, however won her last two starts on this track including the minor Carotene Stakes in October. Dance Again will have Luis Contreras in the reins from gate 7.

Industrial Policy - Mark Casse trained filly made her graded stakes debut July 6 and finished fifth in the Grade 2 Dance Smartly Stakes and followed that with a second last time out in an Allowance on this track. She finished fourth in the minor Miss Liberty Stakes at Monmouth Park May 26 and before that won a pair of Allowance races with another fourth sandwiched in there. Industrial Policy has been in the money in 11 of 14 career starts but has not shown up against top competition just yet. Javier Castellano gets the call from gate 9.


2014 Canadian Stakes Entries & Odds

Race 9 on Woodbine Racetrack's Sunday card with a Post Time of 5:12 PM.

Entry Horse Jockey Trainer ML Odds
1 Skylander Girl E. Ramsammy A. Patykewich
20-1
2 Lexie Lou P. Husbands M. Casse
3-1
3 Deceptive Vision E. Da Silva M. Pierce
7-2
4 Savvy Hester J. Stein R. Griffith
10-1
5 Royal Fury J. Velazquez B. Lynch
20-1
6 Meri Shika (FR) E. Wilson R. Attfield
15-1
7 Dance Again L. Contreras M. Pierce
12-1
8 La Tia J. Rosario A. De la cerda
6-1
9 Industrial Policy J. Castellano M. Casse
15-1
10 Solid Appeal J. Campbell R. Baker
5-2