Calling Rhy Rhy has pedigree to relish turf in Ontario Damsel
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Calling Rhy Rhy, a daughter of the superb turf sire City Zip, will experiment on grass Saturday at Woodbine in the $150,000 Ontario Damsel Stakes for Ontario-bred 3-year-old fillies.
Calling Rhy Rhy graduated at first asking by six lengths in November and later wound up seventh in the tough Glorious Song Stakes. She finished fourth in each of her first two allowance outings this year and is coming off a daylight score in a six-furlong allowance.
Trainer Roger Attfield said Calling Rhy Rhy had been plagued with sinus issues.
“She’s been fighting off a lot of allergies and mucus,” Attfield said. “We’ve just got her where we want her right at the moment. She’s doing really well. She can really run.”
Calling Rhy Rhy breezed five-eighths over Woodbine’s turf training course in 59.60 seconds on June 12, which wasn’t the first time she has been on the grass, according to Attfield.
“She worked on the turf this winter at Payson Park,” Attfield said. “She goes very well on it.”
City Zip has sired a host of top grass runners, most notably reigning Canadian Horse of the Year Catch a Glimpse and champion turf female Dayatthespa. Calling Rhy Rhy’s dam has thrown three turf winners from seven starters on that surface.
Seven others were entered in the one-mile Ontario Damsel, including the stakes winner Sparkles’ Girl.
Ontario Damsel, Race 8
KEY CONTENDERS
Calling Rhy Rhy, by City Zip
Last 3 Beyers: 79-70-70
◗ She’s looking to become the fourth turf stakes winner this year for Attfield, joining Shakhimat, Danish Dynaformer, and Internal Bourbon. Attfield said Shakhimat had minor throat surgery after finishing fifth in the July 3 Queen’s Plate. Off his victory in the Grade 3 Singspiel on Plate Day, Attfield said Danish Dynaformer could run back in the Grade 2 Bowling Green at Saratoga on July 30.
Sparkles’ Girl, by Society’s Chairman
Last 3 Beyers: 72-63-68
◗ She has been sidelined since Nov. 28, when she captured the Ontario Lassie Stakes on Polytrack. Her hot young sire was a multiple stakes winner on grass for Attfield.
Dublin Diva, by Leroidesanimaux
Last 3 Beyers: 72-74-79
◗ She has worked twice on the turf training course since ending up sixth in the Woodbine Oaks. By a 15 percent turf sire, she is out of the turf stakes winner Diva Ash.
Swoop and Strike, by Smart Strike
Last 3 Beyers: 65-72-74
◗ Trainer Malcolm Pierce is adding blinkers following her wide sixth-place finish in a one-mile allowance.