Ontario Matron Stakes 2014 Contenders & Odds

Dave Bond | OTB Writer

Las Vegas, NV - Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario will be the scene of the Grade 3 Ontario Matron Stakes on Saturday, July 26. Fillies and mares three years old and upward will take to Woodbine's All Weather Track and race 1 1/16 miles searching for the winner's portion of the $150,000 purse.

A field of nine females have been confirmed for the Ontario Matron Stakes - race 8 on Woodbine's Saturday card. Post time is 4:36 PM. Let's take a glance into the past performances of all nine entries for this Grade 3 stakes.

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2014 Ontario Matron Stakes Race Favorite Entries

My Option - has 13 career starts for trainer Chris Block with five wins, two seconds and four third place finishes. She registered four wins and two second place finishes in her first six starts including an impressive win in the Grade 3 Arlington Oaks in July but hadn't tasted victory again since a terrific 6 1/2 length score last time out in the Grade 3 Chicago Handicap June 28. She did have a string of three third place finishes toward the end of 2013 including the Grade 3 Pucker Up Stakes and Grade 2 Raven Run Stakes and ended her 2013 campaign with a fourth in the Grade 2 Falls City Handicap at Churchill Downs in November. My Option's only starts this year resulted in a third in the restricted Third Chance Handicap at Hawthorne April 19 and a sixth in her only Woodbine start - the Grade 3 Hendrie in May. She looks to make it two wins in a row Saturday with Eduardo Perez in the saddle from post 3.

La Tia - has placed in all three starts this year highlighted by a win 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. La Tia has 18 career starts with seven wins, a second and four third place finishes but in her only start at Woodbine was fourth in the Grade 2 Canadian Stakes in September. She has looked very competitive in every race this year, has the most wins of any entry in the field and could be a factor from gate 5 with Justin Stein in the reins.

Ontario Matron Stakes 2014 | Remaining Contenders

Spring in the Air - Mark Casse trainee and Canada's champion two-year-old filly in 2012 has 15 career starts with four wins, six seconds and a third place finish. She made her first start since September on April 26 and finished second behind Purely Hot in the Grade 3 Whimsical Stakes on this track and followed that with a great win in the Grade 3 Hendrie Stakes here May 24. Last time out was a fourth in the minor Zadracarta Stakes June 29. She closed out 2013 with a third in the minor La Lorgnette Stakes here after a second in the minor Wonder Where Stakes against the boys on this track in August and an OK fourth in the Queen's Plate also on this track. Before that she had a win and a second in minor stakes action on this track. Spring in the Air also had a second in the Grade 2 Natalma Stakes in September, 2012 and won the Grade 1 Darley Alcibiades in October, 2012 and went on to an OK fifth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies that year. She has placed in six of her last eight starts and hopes to bounce back from a fourth last time out. She lines up in the outside post Saturday.

Northern Passion - four time stakes winner has 15 career starts for trainer Mark Casse with five wins, two seconds and a third place finish. She enters off a nice win in the minor Sweet Briar Stakes here July 1 after a fifth in the Grade 2 Nassau Stakes on this track and a pair of fifths - an Allowance at Keeneland April 13 and the Grade 2 Dance Smartly Stakes on this track back in July. She finished third in the 2013 Nassau Stakes and followed that with a minor stakes score also on this track - the Zadracarta Stakes in June. She was at her best in 2011 when she won the Grade 3 Natalma Stakes here and went on to a seventh in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Northern Passion has been in there with some top competition and will look to make it two wins in a row with Patrick Husbands in the saddle from gate 8.

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Royal Fury - Brian Lynch trained mare has 24 career starts with five wins, two seconds and six third place finishes. She is coming off a good second 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 a second place finish and will line up in gate 4 with Luis Contreras in the irons from post 4 looking to place for the seventh time in eight starts on this track.

Smartfly - Malcolm Pierce trained filly is coming off a respectable third in the minor Zadracarta Stakes here June 29 after an Allowance Optional Claiming score on this track in May. She did win the minor Wonder Where Stakes here in August and has placed in all six minor stakes in her 12 race career. She steps into graded stakes action for the first time Saturday from gate 6 with Eurico Rosa Da Silva aboard.

Toasting - Thomas Albertini trained filly is coming off a disappointing fifth in the Grade 2 Ruffian Stakes at Belmont Park May 11 after an ugly last of seven in the Grade 2 Inside Information Stakes March 22, an Allowance score March 8, a disappointing eighth in the minor Ten Palms Stakes February 23 and an OK third in the Florida Sunshine Millions Distaff January 10. She ended last year with a good second in the Grade 3 Comely Stakes at Aqueduct in November and a nice win in the minor Dream Rush Stakes at Belmont Park in October. Toasting has placed in just one of her last four starts and enters in less-than-spectacular form. She will be looking to bounce back after a career worst effort when she leaves from the 7-hole with Javier Castellano aboard.

Lady Rouge - Mark Frostad trained filly had a three race win streak before a fifth last time out in her stakes debut - the minor Trillium Stakes here on June 14. She has eight career starts with three wins, a second and a third place finish and hopes to place in stakes company for the first time Saturday. Emma-Jayne Wilson gets the call from the rail.

I'm a Kittyhawk - has 11 career starts with three wins, a second and two third place finishes - all on this track. She has failed to place in her last two starts overall - a fifth in the minor Sweet Briar Too Stakes July followed a sixth in an Allowance Optional Claiming in June. She did win the minor Lady Angela Stakes in May of last year and also has a pair of thirds in minor stakes action. I'm a Kittyhawk steps up in competition Saturday looking to snap out of her recent funk. David Moran rides from post 2.


2014 Ontario Matron Stakes Entries & Odds

Race 8 on Woodbine Racetrack's Saturday card with a Post Time of 4:36 PM.

Entry Horse Jockey Trainer ML Odds
1 Lady Rouge E. Wilson M. Frostad
20-1
2 I'm a Kittyhawk D. Moran R. Crean
20-1
3 My Option E. Perez C. Block
3-1
4 Royal Fury L. Contreras B. Lynch
6-1
5 La Tia J. Stein A. De la cerda
5-2
6 Smartyfly E. Da Silva M. Pierce
8-1
7 Toasting C. Sutherland Kruse T. Albertrani
20-1
8 Northern Passion P. Husbands M. Casse
8-1
9 Spring in the Air P. Husbands M. Casse
7-2