Bobbi Sioux tries going longer

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Bobbi Sioux lasted seven furlongs to win her season opener, and she will try to stretch her speed out to 1 1/16 miles in Sunday's featured sixth race at Woodbine, a second-level optional claimer for females.

Bobbi Sioux had a fruitful 2007 campaign last year at 3, winning 3 of 10 starts and $100,338. The victories came against $40,000 maidens and in a pair of $40,000 conditioned claimers.

Bobbi Sioux recorded several sizzling works in March and April, so it wasn't surprising to see her lead all the way when she came off the sidelines in a first-level allowance April 13. Winter-raced Real Jubilant came to her flank at the eighth pole, but Bobbi Sioux held her ground and won by daylight.

Bobbi Sioux ran second in one of her two route starts on the Polytrack last year, and a two-turn distance seems within her range if she isn't too headstrong early.

Constant Montpellier will ride Bobbi Sioux for trainer Red Johnson, who entered her with a $60,000 claiming tag.

The Tucci Stable entry of Olive Oil and Elkhart are both in with a shot.

Olive Oil came into her own last fall at Calder. She crushed $40,000 maidens after being claimed for $25,000, and eventually won two starter allowances.

Trainer Tino Attard claimed Olive Oil from her most recent race for $50,000 at Gulfstream, a third-place finish going a mile around one turn. This will be her first start on a synthetic surface.

Elkhart, trained by Tino's brother Sid, finished a close third after mounting a wide bid in her first start of the meeting, a seven-furlong sprint at this level.

Apprentice Melanie Pinto was named on both parts of the entry.

More to Prove won a 1 1/16-mile allowance race here on the Polytrack in her final appearance of 2007. She wasn't badly beaten when sixth while returning from a layoff in a second-level allowance on the grass at Gulfstream, but a subsequent effort at Keeneland was subpar.

Jono Jones, who was aboard for both of More to Prove's victories, will ride her for trainer Roger Attfield.

Humble Janet has been idle since she finished a distant fifth in the Grade 3 Indiana Oaks on Oct. 5. In her lone Polytrack attempt last August, she rallied wide for second in the Grade 3 Arlington Oaks.