A. A. Azula's Arch coming around in time for Maple Leaf

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – A. A. Azula’s Arch hasn’t found the mark since her upset score in last year’s Grade 3 Maple Leaf Stakes, but she should be prominent in this year’s edition of the 1 1/4-mile Tapeta route on Saturday at Woodbine.

A. A. Azula’s Arch was a minor player in two of three turf starts in Grade 3 stakes company last winter at Gulfstream. Following a five-month layoff, she was fourth in the 1 1/16-mile Belle Mahone Stakes here on Sept. 8. She is exiting a ninth-place finish in the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor, beaten six lengths going 1 1/4 miles on the grass.

“I thought she ran a couple good races in the wintertime at Gulfstream,” trainer Kevin Attard said. “After her last race there, she was a little drawn up and had lost some weight. We gave her a nice break. It took her a little longer to rebound than we’d initially hoped. I thought her first race back was solid. She likes to go to farther than 1 1/16 miles. The owners wanted to give her a try in the E.P. Taylor. That was a little too much for her, but she wasn’t disgraced.”

The $125,000 Maple Leaf goes as the eighth of 11 races.

KEY CONTENDERS

A. A. Azula’s Arch, by Arch
Last 3 Beyers: 93-76-84

◗ “This is the third race in her form cycle,” Attard said. “She worked really well last week. She looks phenomenal. She’s keeping great weight, and eating well. We’re hoping for a repeat of last year.”

◗ Alan Garcia will ride her for the first time on Saturday.

Lift Up, by Ghostzapper
Last 3 Beyers: 85-80-88

◗ She won the Belle Mahone under Patrick Husbands in her penultimate race. She was a wide-closing fourth last out in the 1 1/16-mile All Along Stakes on the grass at Laurel, finishing just a half-length in arrears.

◗ She was beaten just a neck when second in last year’s Maple Leaf.

Theodora B., by Ghostzapper
Last 3 Beyers: 76-89-77

◗ Like Lift Up, she is a daughter of Ghostzapper owned by Augustin Stable and trained by Michael Dickinson. She’s less accomplished than Lift Up. She’s been stakes-placed four times, most recently when third in the one mile and 70-yard HBPA Stakes on Presque Isle’s Tapeta.

She’s the Berries, by Badge of Silver
Last 3 Beyers: 80-80-79

◗ After ending up second to Lift Up in the Belle Mahone, she won the restricted Classy ‘N Smart Stakes going 1 1/16 miles on the Tapeta here Sept. 29.

Care Lady, by Equal Stripes
Beyers: 73-80

◗ She’s been idle for more than a year, but has been working fast on the Tapeta at the Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland for trainer Arnaud Delacour, who’s taking the blinkers off.