Cahira's Blessing would give Casse fifth win in My Dear Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Mark Casse has won the $125,000 My Dear Stakes four times, including last year with the good Diabolic. He will try to add to that total in Saturday’s renewal of the 5 1/2-furlong sprint when he sends out Cahira’s Blessing in the five-horse field of 2-year-old fillies.

Cahira’s Blessing has made both of her starts on the Tapeta. Declan Carroll, a fresh new face in the Woodbine jockey colony this year, has been aboard in both races. Cahira’s Blessing ran greenly when third behind her promising stablemate Adora at first asking in a 4 1/2-furlong maiden special on May 14, after which she galloped out strongly.

Cahira’s Blesssing made no mistakes in a five-furlong maiden-special on June 12. After being bet down to favoritism, she stalked in second before taking control entering the stretch en route to a 2 1/2-length score with a 57 Beyer Speed Figure.

Carroll retains the mount from the outside post on the daughter of Maclean’s Music.

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“I like it,” said Casse, regarding the draw.

Trainer Mike DePaulo entered Speedy River, who led all the way in her June 18 debut in a 4 1/2-furlong dash combining Ontario-sired and $40,000 maidens.

“She ran a real good race,” DePaulo said. “She’s very quick. Mike Cook [at Classic Mile] had her in Florida and sent her up to us in great shape, and it’s been onwards and upwards from there.”

DePaulo said Speedy River got outworked prior to her race by several stablemates.

“It’s funny because I worked her with a couple of others and she finished third, but she was the one that won,” DePaulo recalled. “She’s got some pump, that’s for sure. She tries.”

Trainer Josie Carroll entered Collecting Flatter and State of Mind, who was supplemented at a cost of $2,500.

Collecting Flatter was 2-1 in a four-horse maiden-special going five-eighths in her lone outing June 25. After dueling through a slow early pace with Witch Hazel, the daughter of the late Flatter drew clear to prevail by 1 1/2 lengths with a 69 Beyer.

First-time starter State of Mind is a daughter of former leading turf sire Kitten’s Joy. Owned and bred by LNJ Foxwoods, State of Mind posted two above-average breezes here this month, including a half-mile from the gate in 48.60 on July 3.

Damaso is the lone shipper in the lineup. She won her 4 1/2-furlong opener on the dark Tapeta at Presque Isle Downs by 5 1/2 lengths on June 8, earning a 50 Beyer in the process.

By Outwork, Damaso has worked three times at Presque Isle since earning her diploma, including five-eighths in a quick 59.80 on July 4. Her trainer, Tim Hamm, has been successful with his juveniles at Woodbine, highlighted by a victory in the 2019 My Dear with Fast Scene.