Bambarra Bold progressing nicely

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Barbara Minshall celebrated another stakes victory in Sunday’s Classy ’n Smart Stakes at Woodbine with Strut the Course, but the 4-year-old filly’s younger half-sister Bambarra Bold also could make a name for herself in the near future.

Bambarra Bold has reeled off three straight wins in Ontario-sired allowance company, saving her best race for her most recent start over seven furlongs Sept. 17, when she won by 5 3/4 lengths and earned a 74 Beyer Speed Figure.

The 3-year-old filly made her career debut this year. Minshall said Bambarra Bold’s size and level of maturity were two key factors that led to her not racing as a 2-year-old.

“She’s a very, very big horse, and she was a very big 2-year-old,” she said. “We just felt she needed time to mature and grow. She’s also kind of a high-strung filly, and she’s needed time to mentally settle as well.”

But the patience has paid off in recent races. Minshall said Bambarra Bold’s prerace behavior has improved since her second career start June 21, and she’s won all three of her races since then.

“Her second race, she was really bad in the paddock,” Minshall said. “Between her second and third race, we probably paddocked her half a dozen times at least, maybe more. I’ve got to ask my groom, but he probably took her over there nine times until she was calm.”

Moving forward, Minshall said Bambarra Bold likely would make one start in an open first-level allowance race in preparation for the $150,000 Jammed Lovely Stakes over seven furlongs on Polytrack on Nov. 8.