Bold Script using Selene as Woodbine Oaks prep

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Bold Script, last year’s Canadian champion 2-year-old filly, will prep for the June 8 Woodbine Oaks in Saturday’s $125,000 Selene Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile route with Grade 3 status.

Trained by Stu Simon for Chiefswood Stable, Bold Script was a model of consistency during her championship season. After landing her debut, she was third in back-to-back stakes, most notably the Grade 1 Natalma.

Bold Script ran second to the future Canadian champion male 2-year-old Avie’s Flatter in the restricted Cup and Saucer Stakes on Oct. 7. She made her first non-turf start on Tapeta on Nov. 4 in the 1 1/16-mile Princess Elizabeth Stakes, which she won easily with a Beyer Speed Figure of 83, tied for the highest Beyer earned by a 2-year-old in Canada last year.

In her March 2 season opener in the Grade 2 Davona Dale at Gulfstream, Bold Script was much farther back than usual early. She trailed the seven-horse field on the backstretch and then passed two rivals during a wide trip to finish a non-threatening fifth in the one-turn dirt mile.

“She’s doing well,” Chiefswood general manager Robert Landry said. “We thought we’d give her a little break. We thought the best plan of attack to get her to the Oaks would be to run her in the Selene. She had a great winter. She’s had some unbelievable works. She’s a really good filly.”

Just four other 3-year-old fillies were entered in the Selene, which goes as the third race on a 10-race card.

Bold Script, by Speightstown
Last 3 Beyers: 79-83-66

◗ Her work in company last Saturday, five-eighths in 59.20 seconds on the Tapeta, was fast early and slow late, according to Landry. Her half-mile breeze a week earlier was clocked in 47.60, which also was among the fastest of the day.

Souper Charlotte, by Warrior’s Reward
Beyers: 63-73

◗ She was unbeaten in two starts last fall, a six-furlong maiden special and the seven-furlong Glorious Song Stakes.

◗ The $325,000 yearling purchase has worked nicely this spring and is bred to handle a route of ground.

Power Gal, by Empire Maker

Last 3 Beyers: 69-61-71

◗ The highlight of her six-race career was a victory in the one-mile Martha Washington Stakes at Oaklawn. She’s coming off a third-place finish here in the six-furlong Star Shoot Stakes.

Preferred Guest, by Society’s Chairman
Last 3 Beyers: 56-68-56

◗ Last year’s South Ocean Stakes winner, she rallied for third as the heavy favorite when returning to the local scene in a seven-furlong Ontario-sired allowance April 27.

◗ Like Souper Charlotte and Power Gal, she is trained by Mark Casse, who has won the Selene four times.