Bay to Bay trying two turns

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Off a victory in the Grade 3 Natalma Stakes, Bay to Bay will try two turns for the first time Saturday at Woodbine in the Grade 3, $250,000 Mazarine Stakes.

The Mazarine, run at 1 1/16 miles, has lured several other promising 2-year-old fillies, including Resentless, Cascading, and Jenny's So Great.

After finishing third in her debut on turf, Bay to Bay won a seven-furlong maiden special on Polytrack. She returned to turf last month in the Natalma, a one-turn mile, dueling on the lead through slow fractions and prevailing with a 71 Beyer Speed Figure.

"She ran good in her first start, being green, so I wasn't frightened putting her back on the grass," said trainer Brian Lynch. "She's a versatile filly. She handled the Poly, and that was a perfect prep to get her into [the Natalma], to have her fit enough to get the mile. She's always shown that she's a little bit special."

Resentless weakened to third when she made her debut over 5 1/2 furlongs, but she made amends with a front-running score in a seven-furlong maiden special for Ontario-sired fillies Aug. 29, earning an 85 Beyer.

"I was disappointed after her first race," said trainer Ian Howard. "We were extremely high on her. She had always been impressive, the way she'd worked. I don't know if it was the five and a half. We'd never really set her down. Even though she'd worked fast, we'd never really asked her. It surprised me that she broke as sharp as she did."

Howard bypassed the six-furlong Victorian Queen Stakes last Saturday in favor of the Mazarine. He is also eyeing the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at 1 1/16 miles here Oct. 31.

"I think she'll actually be better going two turns," said Howard. "I think she'll learn to rate and relax better. If she does, when you get to the Princess Elizabeth, I'd rather be in the position of having gone around two turns once rather than sprinting her in the Victorian Queen. If she'll go two turns, there's so much more money."

Cascading, a beautifully bred daughter of A.P. Indy, earned a 78 Beyer in her debut over 6 1/2 furlongs Sept. 11.

Jenny's So Great faced males in her narrow loss to favored Ghost Fleet in the seven-furlong Swynford Stakes on Sept. 13.

Jackpot Joanie is a promising maiden and a half-sister to Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks winner Summerly.