Catch the Thrill's last chance to rebound

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Catch the Thrill will try to salvage something from a disappointing year in Thursday's Woodbine headliner, a second-level allowance with an optional claiming price of $60,000 to $62,000.

On the strength of her Princess Elizabeth Stakes win, Catch the Thrill was voted the Sovereign Award for last year's Canadian champion 2-year-old filly over Sealy Hill.

After running second in the Ontario Lassie Stakes on Dec. 2, 2006, Catch the Thrill underwent ankle surgery. She did not race until her poor performance in a July 7 optional claimer on the grass. Three weeks later in the Wonder Where Stakes, she finished fourth behind the talented trio of Sealy Hill, Saskawea, and Street Sounds.

Most recently, coming off another layoff in a Nov.o3 optional claimer, Catch the Thrill rallied wide for second behind favored Sprint Waltz.

Jockey Robert Landry will ride Thursday for trainer Mark Frostad.

Other contenders in the 1 1/16-mile race include Elkhart, Palace Pier, Parrsboro Gold, and Baroness.

Elkhart has had a productive year, winning 3 of 9 starts to earn $147,229. Her Sept. 15 score in a second-level allowance was impressive, and good for an 87 Beyer Speed Figure.

Elkhart was third behind stakes winner Like a Gem when she tried the grass for the first time Oct. 12. Last time out in the seven-furlong Bessarabian Stakes, she raced wide and trailed the field.

Leading rider Patrick Husbands picks up the mount on Elkhart.

Palace Pier, who defeated Catch the Thrill while leading throughout the 2006 Ontario Lassie, is also winless this year. The highlight of her year is a third-place finish in the Grade 2 Beaumont Stakes in her 2007 debut at Keeneland.

Most recently in the Jammed Lovely Stakes, Palace Pier faded to fifth after attending a slow pace. Expect her to try to wire this field under speed rider Emile Ramsammy.

Parrsboro Gold finished second and third running for a $60,000 claiming tag in each of her last two starts.

Baroness is coupled with Elkhart in the Tucci Stable entry. She made a four-wide bid before fading to fourth behind Parrsboro Gold on Nov. 18, and has run hot and cold since the middle of the summer.

* Three rapid sprinters - Starticus, Oistins Bay, and Written in Stone - will clash in Thursday's supporting feature, a first-level allowance.