Cactus Kris brings solid synthetic-track form to Ruling Angel
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Duchess Stakes runner-up Cactus Kris is back in town for Saturday’s $100,000 Ruling Angel at Woodbine and merits top billing in the 6 1/2-furlong overnight stakes for 3-year-old fillies.
Cactus Kris has competed over the Tapeta surface four times this year at Presque Isle Downs, where she finished fourth against older opposition in the Grade 2 Presque Isle Masters on Sept. 8.
Trainer Ryan Walsh ran her twice at the current Woodbine meet. She was beaten a nose by the favored Pirate’s Trove in the seven-furlong Duchess on Polytrack on July 20 and was a nonthreatening fourth in the Grade 3 Ontario Colleen Stakes on grass Aug. 23.
The Ruling Angel attracted nine others, including Russian Jewel, who was supplemented for $2,000.
KEY CONTENDERS
Cactus Kris (Last 3 Beyers: 85-81-79)
* Her synthetic-track form is impeccable, and she’ll be tough to beat if she runs her usual race for jockey Huber Villa-Gomez.
On Rainbow Bridge (Last 3 Beyers: 76-68-52)
* She has been idle since running third Sept. 1 in the six-furlong Etobicoke Stakes, which came a month after another third in the 1 1/16-mile Eternal Search Stakes. Trainer Dave Cotey said he bypassed the La Prevoyante Stakes because she didn’t handle the grass in the July 19 Ontario Damsel Stakes.
“I didn’t want to run her on the turf, so I backed off on her,” Cotey said. “She’s had a few works and should give a good account of herself. In the [Eternal Search], I brought her back in two weeks, and she wasn’t 100 percent. We do certain work on her, which you can’t do every two weeks.”
Hillhouse High (Last 3 Beyers: 83-83-75)
* The Chad Brown-trained shipper from New York was a wide third in her lone Polytrack try in the Duchess. She has stuck to the turf since then, finishing a close third in a restricted stakes at Saratoga and then second in a six-furlong optional claimer at Belmont.
Unspurned (Last 3 Beyers: 80-81-74)
* This year’s Bison City Stakes winner is turning back off a prominent second in the La Lorgnette Stakes. She is 2 for 2 in sprints, victories that came against maidens and first-level allowance types.
Grandma’s House (Last 3 Beyers: 80-68-46)
* She’s exiting a front-running allowance score on grass in her second start off the bargain $16,000 claim by trainer John Cardella.
“She’s really improved,” said Cardella. “I’m taking a shot.”