Carroll duo draw outside but loom large
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The Josie Carroll-trained stablemates Bells of Paradise and Fleury are drawn outside in the 13-horse feature going 6 1/2 furlongs on Saturday at Woodbine. Bells of Paradise should be favored from post 12 in the nonwinners-of-two allowance, while Fleury figures to be a longshot from post 13.
Bells of Paradise raced twice last year at 2, winning her Nov. 1 debut in a six-furlong maiden special from a stalking position with a 71 Beyer Speed Figure. She went to the sidelines after a front-running fifth in the 1 1/16-mile Princess Elizabeth Stakes for Canadian-breds in late November.
Exiting an eight-month layoff Aug. 8, Bells of Paradise saved ground over an inside-biased track before angling three wide around the quarter pole. She closed from fourth to finish second behind Classic Move, earning an 80 Beyer in the six-furlong allowance.
Fleury graduated in her seventh start Aug. 8 after a stalking trip going six furlongs, for which she got a 72 Beyer. Nothing went her way most recently when seventh in the restricted Algoma Stakes, during which she was farther back than usual early in a large field before trying to mount a wide bid over a track that favored speed and inside runners.
Fraser Aebly retains the mount on Bells of Paradise, and Rafael Hernandez will ride Fleury again.
Among the other contenders in the 10th race are Bullet Journal, Mew N Me, and Hawberry.
Bullet Journal was competitive in just one of four outings in the United States this year before the 3-year-old was turned over to trainer Catherine Day-Phillips in the spring.
Off some flashy works, Bullet Journal was bet down to 3-5 in her local debut July 18 and ran to those odds. Over an inside- and speed-favoring track, she darted out to the lead and never looked back to win the 6 1/2-furlong maiden special by 8 3/4 lengths with an 83 Beyer. Against Classic Move and Bells of Paradise most recently, she finished a sagging third as the favorite.
Mew N Me won her maiden three back against Ontario-sired and $40,000 maidens on the Tapeta and then finished a respectable fourth at this level on the inner turf. The late bloomer took her game to another level most recently when beaten a nose with a 78 Beyer going seven furlongs on the Tapeta.
Hawberry also is coming off a breakout performance, during which she closed along a live rail for second in the seven-furlong Algoma for graduates of Canadian yearling sales. Christoff Douglas rode her then without his apprentice allowance, and she gets in lighter this time with his weight allowance applied.
Trainer Mark Casse sends out the speedy duo of Happy Destination and Charmingly Evasive. Happy Destination drew the rail and could lead early, with Charmingly Evasive taking up the chase in a stalking position, along with Bells of Paradise and Bullet Journal.
Post time for the 11-race card is 1 p.m.
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