Archeress the class of allowance field

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Archeress should be the boss in a field of six in Friday's Woodbine feature, a first-level allowance for Ontario-sired 3-year-old fillies.

Archeress has made three starts. In her debut in early September, she finished second to a sharp Perigee Girl, who won the restricted Victorian Queen Stakes in her next outing.

Archeress won by two lengths in a six-furlong Ontario-sired maiden special Sept. 21. She capped her 2-year-old campaign by finishing a close fifth in the six-furlong Victorian Queen.

Trainer Mike DePaulo said he felt breaking from the rail hindered Archeress's chances in the Victorian Queen.

"She drew the inside post, and was pressured the whole way on the lead," DePaulo recalled.

DePaulo was productive last weekend, winning a first-level allowance with Kharlamov, and a $25,000 claimer with classy Krz Ruckus. He said he has always thought highly of Archeress, who is a half-sister to stakes-winning sprinters Rushiscomingup and Rare Executive.

"She's a nice filly," DePaulo said. "She had shins and all kinds of trouble last year before she got going. I gave $30,000 for her as a yearling, which is the most I ever gave for a crooked-legged horse. I think she can be a good filly."

Archeress drilled five-eighths in 1:00.60 over the training track on April 1, which was the third-fastest of 26 workers at the distance. Slade Callaghan will break her from post 1.

Nohoch, Executive Flight, and Box Office Launch are other possibilities in the 5 1/2-furlong feature.

Nohoch was visually impressive winning her maiden against Ontario-sired opposition at five furlongs on opening day. She rallied from 10 lengths back and ducked in late in the stretch before scoring by a half-length, receiving a Beyer Speed Figure of 50.

Executive Flight is making her first start since ending up third in an open allowance here Nov. 16. She toppled Ontario-sired maidens with a 63 Beyer in October, which is just a point below the best figure earned by Archeress.

Apprentice Emma-Jayne Wilson will ride Executive Flight for trainer Darwin Banach.

Box Office Launch took five starts to win her maiden, and it came for a $50,000 claiming tag in November. Her final 2-year-old outing resulted in a runner-up placing in a two-turn allowance.