Brattothecore takes perfect record into Fury
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Brattothecore will put her unbeaten record on the line against five other 3-year-old fillies Sunday at Woodbine in the $162,750 Fury Stakes.
The seven-furlong race for Canadian-breds is an important prep for the June 8 Woodbine Oaks. In fact, four of the last six Fury winners have gone on to capture the Oaks.
Brattothecore has been a pleasant surprise for trainer John Ross, who got away with running the $55,000 2-year-old purchase against $62,500 maidens first time out. She came from well off a rapid pace to notch her only other 2-year-old start, in the mile and a sixteenth Ontario Lassie Stakes.
"She's not a fast-working filly," Ross noted. "That's why I ran her for $62,500. She only does what she has to in the mornings. She'll never light up your stopwatch."
Brattothecore spent the winter in Florida, and then won her season opener here in a six-furlong allowance. She earned a solid Beyer Speed Figure of 81 in the process, a number much higher than her 2-year-old Beyer Figures, but Ross doesn't expect her to bounce on Sunday.
"I don't think it will be any issue at all," Ross predicted. "Her body language has been good, and she hasn't missed an oat since she ran. She's been doing everything so nicely."
Also entered in the Fury are Mountain Dawn, Alpha Saphire, Miss Crissy, Buffalo Jump and Elusive Thought.
Mountain Dawn was a close second in two stakes at 2, including the prestigious Princess Elizabeth. She rallied inside to win her first start of the year, in a slowly run seven-furlong allowance, much to the delight of trainer Mac Benson.
"She wound up winning without it taking a lot out of her," Benson pointed out. "It wasn't a real fast race, but it accomplished its purpose."
Benson admitted that Mountain Dawn has been a very difficult filly to train, but said she has matured some this year.
"I think she's improved," Benson said, giving much of the credit to exercise rider Corey Frasier.
Miss Crissy, a Sovereign Award finalist for champion 2-year-old filly in 2002, is making her first start of the year for trainer Emile Allain. She defeated two of her current rivals - Buffalo Jump and Elusive Thought - when she won the Fanfreluche Stakes in October.