Bay to Bay should like added distance

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Bay to Bay has been tabbed by many here as the best 2-year-old filly training at Woodbine. On Saturday, Bay to Bay will get a chance to live up to her notices in the Grade 3, $150,000 Natalma, a one-mile turf race for 2-year-old fillies that is part of the Breeders' Cup Win and You're In series and drew a field of nine.

Bay to Bay, a Florida-bred, debuted with a third-place finish over six furlongs of turf and then was a smart two-length winner over seven furlongs of Polytrack.

"First time out she broke a little bit slow, but she closed nicely," said Brian Lynch, who trains Bay to Bay for owner Rob Smithen. "After that, we were keeping the Natalma in mind, and I wanted to get a decent seven-eighths into her."

Lynch sees no problem with the added distance of the Natalma.

"I'm more confident about that than anything," he said.

"She's very talented. She's certainly the best 2-year-old in my barn."

The Natalma also attracted a pair of invaders in Elusive Galaxy and Gitchee Goomie.

Elusive Galaxy began her career with three starts in Ireland, with her most recent being a third-place finish in the Grade 2 Debutante over seven furlongs at Leopardstown. Purchased privately by Three Chimneys Racing and Triple B Farms, Elusive Galaxy checked into Woodbine on Tuesday evening and will be making her final start here for trainer Gerard Lyons. Following the Natalma, she will be transferred to trainer Ben Cecil and shipped to California.

Rafael Bejarano has picked up the mount on Elusive Galaxy, who will be racing with Lasix for the first time.

Gitchee Goomie won her maiden over 1 1/16 miles of turf in her only start, which came in a New York-bred maiden race at Saratoga. Trained by Linda Rice, who was the leader at the Saratoga meeting, Gitchee Goomie was supplemented to the Natalma at a cost of $3,000 and will be ridden by Julien Leparoux.

Coming into the Natalma off seven-furlong turf scores will be Jungle Tale and Show Me the Ring. Jungle Tale, trained by Steve Asmussen, won her maiden in her third start. Show Me the Ring, trained by Bill Tharrenos, won the $90,260 allowance prep for the Natalma after capturing a $25,000 maiden race in her previous outing.

Richard Dos Ramos, aboard for Show Me the Ring's most recent score at 21-1, again gets the call.