Baker's two speedsters head stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The Reade Baker-trained duo of Perigee Girl and U R Flashy head a field of six Ontario-sired 2-year-old fillies in Wednesday's $125,000 Victorian Queen Stakes at Woodbine.

Even though U R Flashy is a stakes winner, Perigee Girl will likely be favored in the six-furlong contest off her dazzling second-out maiden score over Ontario-sired opposition Sept. 4. She led throughout that 5 1/2-furlong dash, winning by nine lengths after being geared down late. Her time of 1:04.20 translated into a Beyer Figure of 84, one of the highest Beyers recorded by a 2-year-old here this year.

"She's a real tryer," said Baker. "She pins her ears and tries."

U R Flashy won her second start, a slow Ontario-sired maiden special at five furlongs. She captured the restricted Nandi Stakes on the front end Aug. 6, receiving a 64 Beyer for covering six furlongs in 1:11.40.

Most recently, U R Flashy finished ninth after flashing speed in the seven-furlong Muskoka, a stakes for graduates of local yearling sales.

Baker said he believes U R Flashy's fade job in the Muskoka is a throwout, because she was softened up in a suicidal pace duel. He was thrilled with her five-furlong work in 1:01.20 last Friday, which was the seventh-fastest of 44 moves at the distance.

"She had a brilliant work the other morning," Baker said. "It was as good a work as any one we've had this year."

Perigee Girl and U R Flashy have similar speed styles, and Baker said he must formulate a strategy to keep them apart in the early furlongs of the Victorian Queen.

"I will have to think about that," Baker said. "Obviously, I don't want them going head-and-head down the backside at 100 miles per hour."

Jockey Jim McAleney was named on Perigee Girl and U R Flashy, and will have his choice of the two, according to Baker.

Other possibilities in the race include La Gran Marylin and Chickenonastikbaby.

La Gran Marylin hit the board in three consecutive races before winning an Aug. 5 maiden special for Ontario-sired runners. She came between rivals in the stretch to finish second last time out, in a six-furlong allowance won by the unbeaten Noshameinmygame.

Chickenonastikbaby won both of her outings in middle claimers. She defeated $40,000 maidens and came from sixth and last on the turn to capture a $50,000 event Sept. 7.

* The pick seven carryover heading into Wednesday's nine-race card is $17,210.