Authenicat gives turf another try

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Jockey Robert Landry has a lot to look forward to this month. He has a date with Delaware Oaks winner Careless Jewel in the Grade 1 Alabama Aug. 22 at Saratoga, and also has the mount on the Josie Carroll-trained Authenicat in Sunday's $125,000 Victoriana Stakes at Woodbine.

Authenicat should be favored in the 1 1/16-mile turf route for Ontario-sired females, even though she could only manage second at 3-5 in her lone grass try over yielding ground in last year's La Prevoyante Stakes.

"She only got beat three-quarters of a length," said Landry, who rode her then. "I know it was a little soggy, but she handled the grass. On that particular day, I couldn't get her to relax the way I normally do. She was a little on the bridle. Personally, I think she's a talented filly, and she'll run on anything."

Authenicat finished up the track in her season opener in the Grade 1 Madison Stakes at Keeneland, but she rebounded with a third behind Smart Surprise and Proud Heiress here in the Grade 3 Hendrie Stakes.

Authenicat toyed with her Ontario-sired opposition two starts ago in the Ballade Stakes. Last time in the Grade 3 Chicago Handicap at Arlington, she dueled up front with the heavily favored Informed Decision before fading to third.

"[Informed Decision] is a nice filly," said Landry. "She could be a Breeders' Cup winner."

You Will Love Me's lone victory in seven starts last year came in the Victoriana. She finished sixth, fifth and fourth in her three appearances at this meet, all on Polytrack.

Trainer Earl Barnett said he has been pointing You Will Love Me towards the Victoriana since the beginning of the year.

"She's coming up to it pretty good," said Barnett. "Basically, her form hasn't changed too much from last year, when her first three races didn't look that great. I tried to do the same thing this year, except for the one race, the Repercussion Stakes."

Barnett said You Will Love Me worked to his satisfaction over the turf training course last Sunday.

"She went a half in 47, and galloped out in 58.40," said Barnett. "The rider had a hard time pulling her up."

Tenjectory, who upset Authenicat in the 2008 La Prevoyante, has also struggled this year. Her last race, an allowance, was moved to the Polytrack from the grass, which is her preferred surface.