Change of Control enters Royal North off biggest win

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Change of Control, one of the leading female turf sprinters on the continent, is the 9-5 morning line favorite among a field of eight in Sunday’s Grade 2, $175,000 Royal North on the Woodbine Oaks undercard. The Royal North will be run at six furlongs over the main turf course.

Change of Control has taken two of her last three starts, all in stakes, at three different tracks. She won the Giant’s Causeway over yielding ground at Keeneland, and was second ahead of two next-out winners in the Unbridled Sidney at Churchill Downs.

Most recently when going from 5 1/2 furlongs to seven-eighths in the Grade 3 Intercontinental at Belmont Park, Change of Control awaited room along the rail on the turn before splitting rivals en route to a daylight score.

Patrick Husbands will ride Change of Control. The 5-year-old is the first Canadian starter for trainer Michelle Lovell, who has been working the daughter of Alberta sire Fed Biz on the turf at Colonial.

Lead Guitar is returning from an eight-month layoff, and has a history of firing when fresh. She capped a four-race win streak in her last outing in the Nov. 29 Autumn Days Stakes at Aqueduct, which she won easily going six furlongs.

Rafael Hernandez has the mount on Lead Guitar, who has won six of 11 starts, all for accomplished layoff trainer George Weaver.

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Trainer Mark Casse sends out Lady Grace and Jeanie B.

Lady Grace posted a mild upset in the 2020 Royal North, winning it over an easier group than what she’s up against on Sunday. She went on to finish seventh against the boys in the Grade 2 Nearctic in October.

Lady Grace has been idle since ending up eighth after a wide trip in the April 29 Unbridled Sidney. Casse said there have been limited opportunities for her.

“As always, when you have a horse that won stakes, it’s difficult to find races,” Casse said. “My only regret with her is she just hasn’t been able to run more, but she’s coming up to it good.”

Jeanie B ran one of her better races last time out May 28, when she wired second-level allowance rivals going six furlongs at Belmont. She worked five-eighths in a bullet 59.80 seconds here July 21, her fourth straight breeze on the Tapeta.

“She won impressively at Belmont,” Casse said.

Sister Peacock figures to lead the way, like she did while finishing a close fifth in last year’s Royal North. She has worked impressively since coming up empty after missing the break in her season opener in a second-level allowance.

Rounding out the field are Fairywren, Jeannie’s Beepbeep, and the erratic Amalfi Coast, who could make her presence known if she brings her A game.