Barnett brings Anne's Purse right back

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Anne's Purse nearly made her turf debut a winning one in the Ontario Damsel Stakes. She will try to stretch her speed out to seven furlongs on that surface Wednesday night at Woodbine in the $125,000 Passing Mood Stakes, for Ontario-sired 3-year-old fillies.

Anne's Purse won her first two starts convincingly on the Polytrack, including the seven-furlong Lady Angela Stakes. She was found to have abscesses in her mouth after her substandard effort in a June 19 allowance, according to trainer Earl Barnett.

Anne's Purse lost a heartbreaker in the July 6 Ontario Damsel, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for Ontario-breds. She battled on the lead along the rail with favored Gloriously before being overtaken by Krz Exec in the final strides, losing by a neck.

"I was really proud of her," said Barnett. "She ran very professional. I think she thought she won it. She doesn't know she was second. She was very game. She's as tough as nails. The filly who won is no slouch. If she had seen her coming on the outside, she might have fought with her, too."

Barnett said he isn't concerned with running Anne's Purse back 2 1/2 weeks after that taxing performance.

"She came out of it super," Barnett said. "We gave her two days off. After two days, we had to get her out and do something with her."

Authenicat had a solid 2-year-old campaign under the guidance of trainer Josie Carroll, winning the Victorian Queen Stakes and finishing second in the Grade 3 Pocahontas Stakes at Churchill. She is winless in four starts this year, but was a deceptively good third in the Woodbine Oaks, and is coming off a runner-up placing in the 1 1/16-mile Bison City Stakes.

Authenicat will be making her first turf start with little breeding for that surface, although her half-brother Fudgethebottomline ran third over yielding ground in last year's Bunty Lawless Stakes.

Authenicat breezed five-eighths in a quick 1:00.20 on the Polytrack July 13.

D'wild Ride, based in New Jersey with trainer Joe Orseno, won a five-furlong optional claimer on the grass at Gulfstream in April. She then won the Just Smashing Stakes on the dirt at Monmouth.