Audacious Bear tries to fire fresh in South Ocean
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – After shelving his star 2-year-old filly Caren for the remainder of the year, trainer Mike De Paulo will go to his bench when he sends out Audacious Bear in Saturday’s $125,000 South Ocean Stakes at Woodbine.
Audacious Bear got a little break after getting drilled first time out going five-eighths July 12. She led throughout a seven-furlong maiden special weight race Aug. 28, beating next-out winner Niigon’s Legacy, who ran third to Caren on Nov. 1 in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes.
Audacious Bear didn’t disgrace herself last out Oct. 4 in the Grade 3 Mazarine Stakes, fading to fourth after setting the pace.
“Physically, I’ve always liked her, but she was a little slow to come around mentally,” De Paulo said. “Her first race wasn’t that good, so we put her on Lasix and stretched her out. I think that’s what she wants to do. We’ve given her plenty of time. She’s nice and fresh.”
Audacious Bear should be prominent throughout the 1 1/16-mile event for Ontario-sired fillies, which lured a field of nine.
“I don’t think she has to [lead],” De Paulo said.
South Ocean, Race 8
KEY CONTENDERS
Audacious Bear (Last 3 Beyers: 67-63-0)
◗ She has worked four times leading up to this engagement, including five-eighths in 1:00 and change twice.
“She worked with Caren,” De Paulo said. “She stayed right with her.”
Neshama (Last 2 Beyers: 67-38)
◗ She shook loose on the lead and never looked back to prevail in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special two weeks ago. She is by Sligo Bay, the sire of the first two finishers in the 2013 South Ocean, Lexie Lou and Paladin Bay.
Union Conqueror (Last 3 Beyers: 60-44-26)
◗ This daughter of turf champion Sky Conqueror has improved by leaps and bounds with each subsequent start and is coming off a daylight score going long. Her outside draw is a negative, but jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson won a stakes for 2-year-olds last weekend.
Zermatta (Beyer: 62)
◗ She rallied inside to win her only start in a mile-and-70-yard maiden special Sept. 6. She has worked five-eighths twice leading up to this acid test, in which she’s a good fit from a Beyer perspective.
Trini Brewnette (Last 2 Beyers: 47-50)
◗ The debut winner has been idle since coming up empty during a wide trip Sept. 2 in the Muskoka Stakes. This daughter of Milwaukee Brew is bred for stamina on top and speed on the bottom of her pedigree.
Battle Castle (Last 2 Beyers: 65-47)
◗ She’s unbeaten in a pair of claiming sprints and is bred for the task at hand.