2017 Bessarabian Stakes Preview, Entries & Odds

Horse Betting Online

Dave Bond | OTB Writer

OffTrackBetting.com - Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario will play host to the G2 Bessarabian Stakes on Sunday, November 26. Fillies and mares three years old and upward will be featured when they take to Woodbine's All Weather Track and race seven furlongs for the winner's share of the $175,000 purse.

A field of nine will give it a go in the Bessarabian Stakes - race 8 on Woodbine's Sunday card. Post time is 4:38 PM. Let's take a look into the past performances of all nine entries for this intriguing G2 stakes.

2017 Bessarabian Stakes Entries at Woodbine Racetrack

Moonlit Promise 6-5

Has placed in seven of eight career starts for trainer Josie Carroll - five wins and two second-place finishes - all at Woodbine. She enters off a good win in the G3 Ontario Fashion Stakes October 28 after another win in the minor Sweet Briar Stakes September 17 and 10 months away. Before the layoff was a sixth in her only other graded stakes action to date - the G3 Maple Leaf Stakes, a win in the listed La Lorgnette Stakes last September and a second in the listed Duchess Stakes in August, 2016. Moonlit Promise has been trending upward and will be after a third straight stakes win on this very track from post 3. Gary Boulanger has been tabbed to ride the morning line favorite from post 3.

Minks Aprise 4-1

Defending third-place finisher has six wins, three seconds and two third place finishes in 20 career starts for trainer Roger Attfield. She made her graded stakes debut last April and finished an OK fourth in the G2 Great Lady M Stakes at Los Alamitos. It followed a win by 2 1/4 lengths in the minor Camilla Urso Stakes at Golden Gate March 19. Mikes Aprise has been up and down lately - an OK second behind Moonlit Promise in the G3 on this track July 22, a win in the minor Trillium Stakes here June 18, a respectable second in the G3 Hendrie Stakes on this track June 4 and a third in the 2016 G2 Bessarabian Stakes. She also had a fourth in the G3 Maple Leaf Stakes last November 5, a good win in the minor H.B.P.A Stakes here October 6, 2016 and a third in the minor Steve Pini Memorial at Suffolk Downs last September 3. Minks Aprise has quietly placed in six of her last eight starts overall but will be after a first graded stakes victory Sunday. Jesse Campbell gets the call on the second betting choice from gate 8.

Greyhound Betting

Boreale 5-1

Graham Motion trained filly has four wins, four seconds and three third-place finishes in 14 career starts. She steps into graded stakes company for the first time Sunday having placed in her last six starts overall. Last time out was a second in the minor River Memories Stakes here November 3 after another second in the restricted George Rosenberger Memorial at Delaware Park September 30 and consecutive thirds - the minor One Dreamer Stakes at Kentucky Downs September 6 and the minor West Virginia Senate President's Cup at Mountaineer August 5. She posted two Allowance scores before that. Boreale has been knocking on the door and hopes for a first stakes win Sunday from post 7 with Steven Ronald Bahen in the reins of the third choice.

Scotty's Model 6-1

Has 14 career starts for trainer Norman McKnight with seven wins and three third-place finishes - all on this track. She enters on a nice three-race win streak - two Allowance Optional Claiming races with the last coming November 4 and a Claiming race September 25. Before that were three straight fifth in Allowance Optional Claiming races and three straight thirds including the minor Ballade Stakes in June, 2016 and the 2016 G3 Ontario Fashion Stakes. Scotty's Model has been a tad inconsistent but arrives in career-best form. She leaves from the outside post 9 with Rafael Manuel Hernandez in the irons.

Sister Nation 10-1

Has placed in seven of nine career starts for trainer Michael De Paulo and arrives on a nice two-race win streak - the only victories of her career. Last time out was in the minor Ruling Angel Stakes October 8 and the other was a maiden score June 17 - both on this track. Before that was an OK third in her only graded stakes action - the G3 Selene Stakes here May 21, a second in the minor Star Shoot Stakes on this track April 16 another second in the minor Cincinnati Trophy Stakes at Turfway Park February 4. Sister Nation will try to build on a nice streak and shoots for a first graded stakes score from post 5 Sunday with Eurico Rosa Da Silva guiding her.

Perdona 12-1

Kelly Rubley trained mare has 15 career starts with four wins, a second and two third-place finishes. She makes her graded stakes debut Sunday off a disappointing stakes bow - a seventh in the minor River Memories Stakes on this track November 3 after a three-race win streak - all Allowance Optional Claiming with the last coming at Belmont Park October 6. Perdona steps up in so-so form and will be after a major breakthrough from gate 2. Emma-Jayne Wilson has the mount.

Crumlin Spirit 20-1

Has just two wins in 25 career starts for trainer Michael Doyle to go along with seven seconds and four third-place finishes - all on this track. She arrives on the heels of consecutive thirds in Optional Claiming races - the last coming November 17 - they followed a sixth in the minor Classy `n Smart Stakes September 24 and a fourth in the G3 Seaway Stakes August 26. Her other two graded stakes results were an eighth in the G3 Hendrie Stakes in June and a sixth in the G3 Whimsical Stakes in April. Her last win came in May, 2016 in the minor Lady Aurelia Stakes which happens to be her only stakes score. Crumlin Spirit tries to snap a prolonged 16-race losing streak Sunday and does so in so-so form. Slade Callaghan has the mount from gate 4.

Liberty Kitten 20-1

Has placed in five of nine career starts for trainer Michael DePaulo - two wins and three third-place finishes. She makes her graded stakes debut Sunday off a second in an Allowance Optional Claiming here October 20, and a pair of fifths in similar races on this track in September. Before those results was a seventh in her only stakes action - the minor Powder Break Stakes April 29 and an Allowance Optional Claiming score in March - both at Gulfstream Park. Liberty Kitten hasn't been all that impressive and will step up in less-than-spectacular form. David Moran rides from gate 6.

Sugar Jones 20-1

Michael Mattine trained filly has hit the board in six of her 12 career starts - all on this track. She made graded stakes debut last time out and finished fourth in the G3 Ontario Fashion Stakes on this track October 28 after a disappointing fifth in the minor Sweet Briar Stakes September 17 and a three-race win streak including an Allowance Optional Claiming August 12 and an Allowance July 9. She placed in just one of three minor stakes races in 2016. Luis Contreras gets the call from the rail.


2017 Bessarabian Stakes Odds & Entries

Race 8 on Woodbine's Sunday card with a Post Time of 4:38 PM

Entry Horse ML Odds Jockey Trainer
1 Sugar Jones 20-1 Luis Contreras Michael Mattine
2 Perdona 12-1 Emma-Jayne Wilson Kelly Rubley
3 Moonlit Promise 6-5 Gary Boulanger Josie Carroll
4 Crumlin Spirit 20-1 Slade Callaghan Michael Doyle
5 Sister Nation 10-1 Eurico Da Silva Michael De Paulo
6 Liberty Kitten 20-1 David Moran Michael De Paulo
7 Boreale 5-1 Steven Bahen H. Motion
8 Minks Aprise 4-1 Jesse Campbell Roger Attfield
9 Scotty's Model 6-1 Rafael Hernandez Norman McKnight