Code Warrior in top form for Royal North

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Code Warrior won the first stakes run on the continent this year, and she might be peaking again in Sunday’s $175,000 Royal North Stakes, a six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares at Woodbine.

Code Warrior was purchased by Robert Marzilli for $190,000 at the 2017 Keeneland November sale. She returned immediate dividends by winning at five furlongs on turf in the $75,000 Abundantia Stakes on Jan. 1 at Gulfstream in her first start for trainer Mike De Paulo.

Code Warrior subsequently finished sixth in another five-furlong turf stakes at Gulfstream, but she got back on track when second in the restricted Ballade Stakes on the Tapeta here May 20.

“She seems to be very versatile,” De Paulo said. “She can run on the dirt, turf, and Tapeta.”

Most recently, Code Warrior inherited the lead in the Grade 3 Hendrie Stakes on the Tapeta and never looked back to win by three-quarters of a length under Luis Contreras.

“The pace was a little slow, and she just went to the front,” De Paulo said.

Nine others were entered in the Grade 2 Royal North, including several shippers. Reigning Canadian Horse of the Year Pink Lloyd will try to rebound off a rare loss in Sunday’s supporting feature, the Grade 3 Vigil Stakes.

KEY CONTENDERS

Code Warrior, by Society’s Chairman
Last 3 Beyers: 88-80-73

◗ De Paulo has worked her four times since the June 10 Hendrie.

“She’s doing great,” De Paulo said. “We gave her a nice little break. This race was our goal. We’d love to get to champion [female] sprinter if possible.”

Lull, by War Front
Last 3 Beyers: 97-96-94

◗ She was scratched from Monday’s Caress Stakes at Saratoga by trainer Christophe Clement because of the soft ground. This is her first start since she was a front-running third in the Grade 1 Just a Game over a mile at Belmont on June 9, and she has some positive sprinting experience.

Smiling Causeway, by Giant’s Causeway
Last 3 Beyers: 101-69-92

◗ She has done the bulk of her damage when racing up front, which was the case when she wired the field July 7 in the five-furlong Turf Amazon Stakes at Parx. The long stretch on this roomy course could pose a challenge for her.

Jennifer Lynnette, by Elusive Quality
Last 3 Beyers: 83-80-95

◗ Last year’s Royal North winner, she is winless in five starts this season, but her wide third behind Lady Alexandra in the License Fee Stakes at Belmont was among the better performances of her career.

Corps de Ballet, by Speightstown
Last 3 Beyers: 86-91-94

◗ A successful miler, she’s making her first start for trainer Roger Attfield. She comes off a nine-month layoff and has been working right along.