Cactus Kris primed for solid effort in Bessarabian
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – American invader Cactus Kris nailed Endless Light on the wire to win the Grade 3 Ontario Fashion Stakes on Oct. 18 at Woodbine and will be looking to double up in Sunday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Bessarabian Stakes, a seven-furlong sprint for fillies and mares on Polytrack.
Cactus Kris sat well off the early pace in the Ontario Fashion and rallied strongly along the outside to win the six-furlong sprint by a neck. She was shortening up after going a mile and 70 yards in the HBPA Stakes at Presque Isle Downs on Oct. 6, and trainer Ryan Walsh said the added furlong in the Bessarabian should suit Cactus Kris better.
“She came off that long race at Presque Isle, so I knew she would be duller than usual [in the Ontario Fashion],” he said. “It’s kind of hard to go from a mile and 70 yards to six furlongs. I think the seven-eighths will help her a little bit. This is kind of her ideal distance.”
Walsh said Cactus Kris has been training on Polytrack at Turfway Park, where she breezed three furlongs in 37.40 seconds on Nov. 7.
“She’s training great,” he said. “I took her to Turfway, and she had a nice breeze. She’s sitting on go.”
KEY CONTENDERS
Cactus Kris (Last 3 Beyers: 91-83-87)
◗ Cactus Kris was 6 3/4 lengths behind the leader at the first call of the Ontario Fashion, but with the added furlong Sunday, Walsh said he expects Cactus Kris to be more involved early.
“I think she’ll be a little closer and more in contention,” he said.
Endless Light (Last 3 Beyers: 90-91-95)
◗ She’s been beaten by a neck and a nose in her last two starts by two rivals she’ll face in the Bessarabian.
◗ She figures to be part of the early pace scenario from the rail, and her speed nearly carried her to a win in the Grade 3 Seaway Stakes over seven furlongs two starts back.
Elusive Collection (Last 2 Beyers: 87-98)
◗ The 3-year-old filly is unbeaten in two career starts, both over six furlongs, and won the Etobicoke Stakes in her last start Sept. 6.
◗ She’ll be making her graded stakes debut in the Bessarabian, but her tracking style should prove useful at seven furlongs.
Marbre Rose (Last 3 Beyers: 81-91-93)
◗ She won her only start on Polytrack two starts back in the Seaway Stakes here over Endless Light and Cactus Kris.
◗ She’ll be hoping for speed to chase as she’ll likely be closing from well off the pace.