Academic tries to pump up credentials in Maple Leaf
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – There could be a lot on the line in Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Maple Leaf Stakes for Academic, who’s a shoo-in to become this year’s Canadian champion 3-year-old filly. A victory in the 1 1/4-mile stakes would boost her chances for Canadian Horse of the Year honors as long as a Woodbine runner does not win a Breeders’ Cup event at Keeneland.
Academic’s coming-out party was her track-record-breaking performance in the 1 1/8-mile Woodbine Oaks. After tanking in the Queen’s Plate, she was shipped to trainer Tim Rycroft at Northlands Park, where she captured the Grade 3 Canadian Derby by eight lengths in August.
Regular rider Justin Stein said Academic had no problem with the 1 3/8-mile distance of the Canadian Derby.
“We wondered about the distance, the other speed, and her relaxing,” Stein said. “She was so relaxed that at points I thought she was empty. I had to chirp at her to put her back on the bridle.”
Stein said Academic overcame adversity to win her last out going 1 1/8 miles with a rail rally in the Grade 3 British Columbia Derby on Sept. 13 at Hastings.
“It was like the distance was too short for her,” Stein said, “and she didn’t handle the track. She got a whole bunch of dirt in her face. She ran into it okay. She wasn’t climbing or anything, but she’d never had it in her face before. It took her a bit to get into gear. At one point, I thought I was just going to be third, and then second, but she started running and just exploded.”
Nine other fillies and mares were entered in the Maple Leaf, the eighth race on a card that begins earlier than usual at 12:20 p.m. Eastern.
KEY CONTENDERS
Academic (Last 3 Beyers: 83-87-NA)
◗ She was recently reunited with original trainer Reade Baker, who sent her out to work five furlongs on the dirt training track here in 1:01 last Saturday.
“She worked really well,” Stein said. “She finished her last quarter impressively on cruise control. She galloped out [three-quarters] in 1:14.”
Midnight Miley (Last 3 Beyers: 89-78-73)
◗ The late bloomer won her second race in a row convincingly in the 1 1/8-mile allowance prep for the Maple Leaf.
Theogony (Last 3 Beyers: 84-76-75)
◗ She has been idle since notching her first stakes win Aug. 30 in the Belle Mahone. The daughter of Curlin is bred for the task at hand.
Flipcup (Last 3 Beyers: 78-78-71)
◗ The New York shipper beat Ontario-sired females after rallying six wide in the Classy ’n Smart Stakes here Sept. 27. Runner-up Obeah Woman came back to bomb in a second-level optional claimer.