Woodbine: Nipissing risks perfect record in Princess Elizabeth Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Nipissing will put her unbeaten record on the line Sunday at Woodbine in the 67th running of the $250,000 Princess Elizabeth Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile route for Canadian-bred 2-year-old fillies.

Nipissing is a rare precocious runner by the recently deceased Queen’s Plate winner Niigon. She came wide from mid-pack to take her debut by three lengths in a seven-furlong maiden special for Ontario-sired fillies Aug. 24.

Nipissing clashed with the heavily favored Leinan in a seven-furlong allowance Sept. 28. After stalking the leaders, she outkicked Leinan in the stretch to score by two lengths, earning a 70 Beyer Figure.

Trainer Rachel Halden said Nipissing was a handy winner last time out.

“She won it well enough that day and galloped out very strong,” said Halden. “That gave us the confidence to go to this race, which has been our plan since she broke her maiden. She looks like a horse who’s crying out to go two turns. I wouldn’t trade places with anyone.”

Nahima was sold privately to Gary Barber after starting twice at Deauville in France, and her new trainer, Mark Casse, is adding Lasix for her North American debut. She graduated second time out over a synthetic surface Aug. 27, just eight days after running seventh in her debut.

“I was impressed with her two races,” said Casse. “I have to think she ran against some pretty tough horses. Her first start was going seven and a half furlongs. She was beaten two and a half lengths, and then she came right back and won going six and a half. I don’t know if she can get two turns, but I figure if she can get seven and a half there, then she should have no problem getting a mile and a sixteenth over our track. She had a nice breeze the other day.”

Tiz Ro romped at first asking going six furlongs with a 77 Beyer July 27. She was bet down to 5-1 in her only other outing, which came in the Grade 2 Natalma Stakes on turf, but was never a factor in a race dominated by the Breeders’ Cup entrants Spring Venture, Spring in the Air, and Nancy O.

Anfield Park earned her diploma second time out, traveling a mile and 70 yards Sept. 2. She’s shedding the blinkers off a lackluster effort Oct. 6 in the Grade 3 Mazarine Stakes.

Crysta’s Court is stretching out off a 44-1 upset score in the Victorian Queen Stakes, a six-furlong sprint for Ontario-sired stock.

Chelsea Road ships in from Maryland off a second-out maiden victory in a 5 1/2-furlong dash on the grass at Laurel.

Smartyfly is getting blinkers after losing by a nose in her only start, a seven-furlong maiden special Sept. 7.