Conquest Soprano will try to improve off debut in My Dear Stakes
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Conquest Soprano will look to move up off her career debut at Churchill Downs in Sunday’s $125,000 My Dear Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Woodbine.
Conquest Soprano, an $85,000 purchase at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. spring sale of 2-year-olds in training in April, gained ground late to be second in her first start as the 3-5 favorite in a five-furlong sprint on dirt June 12. She raced in tight between horses in the early going before angling out for an erratic stretch run. Trainer Mark Casse said there was plenty of room for improvement for Conquest Soprano after her debut.
“She was really green,” he said. “If you watch the replay, she did everything wrong.”
Despite returning in just over two weeks, and without a published work over the Woodbine surface, Casse said he expected a better performance from Conquest Soprano in the five-furlong My Dear.
“She has a lot of talent,” he said. “There’s nothing like experience. I would think she would run well.”
Conquest Soprano will add blinkers, and jockey Patrick Husbands has the mount.
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KEY CONTENDERS
Conquest Soprano (Beyer: 48)
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Casse and Husbands have combined for a 35 percent strike rate over the past two years in non-graded 2-year-old stakes races at Woodbine.
Avisionofchocolate (Beyer: 55)
◗ One of two starters in the field for trainer Steve Asmussen, Avisionofchocolate won at first asking at Parx on May 31. After being shuffled back through the turn, she split horses at the top of the stretch and won by 1 1/4 lengths.
New Threads (Beyer: 62)
◗ She won her career debut on the front end by 5 1/2 lengths on synthetic at Presque Isle Downs for trainer Adam Rice and will be adding Lasix for this start.
One Minute (Last 3 Beyers: 52-59-61)
◗ One Minute is the most experienced filly in the field with four starts under her belt, including a third-place effort in her most recent start in the four-horse Astoria Stakes at Belmont Park on June 4. She won her maiden by 7 1/4 lengths as the even-money favorite on May 14 at this distance at Churchill.
Maymont
◗ A first-time starter for trainer Josie Carroll, Maymont has recorded regular published workouts since the beginning of May, including a four-furlong breeze from the gate in 48.20 seconds here June 21. She was a $320,000 purchase at the 2014 Keeneland September yearling sale for owners James and Alice Sapara.