Cool Shadows on hot streak coming into Ontario Lassie

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Cool Shadows recorded her first stakes win in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes on Oct. 26, and will look to win another in the $125,000 Ontario Lassie Stakes for Ontario-bred 2-year-old fillies on Sunday at Woodbine.

Following a third-place effort on turf in her career debut on Sept. 1, Cool Shadows won her second start, also on turf, on Sept. 27. She carries a two-race win streak into the Ontario Lassie after winning the Princess Elizabeth on Tapeta. Like the Princess Elizabeth, the Lassie is a 1 1/16-mile race over the main track.

“She’s a good-feeling filly,” trainer Stuart Simon said. “We’ve been really happy with the way she’s progressed over her three races.”

Cool Shadows was off slowly in the Princess Elizabeth, but looped around the field to win by a neck over Merveilleux, who is also entered in the Ontario Lassie. Simon said Cool Shadows showed potential from very early on in her training, which has carried over into her races.

“She’s always been a nice filly,” he said. “She’s run well on different surfaces and used different running styles to be successful. Up close and winning, then from last to win, short and long – she’s done extremely well.”

Key Contenders

Cool Shadows, by Munnings

Last 3 Beyers: 72-68-64

◗ Jockey Jerome Lermyte has been aboard for all three of her starts and retains the mount.

◗ Following the Ontario Lassie, Simon said, Cool Shadows could get a start on dirt this winter in Florida.

“She’s going to come down south after,” he said. “We always want to explore things with our young horses down here on the dirt and see what path it takes us on. We’ll take it one race at a time. She’ll run in Florida and we’ll see where that takes us.”

Merveilleux, by Paynter

Last 3 Beyers: 72-65-63

◗ She led in the late going of the Princess Elizabeth Stakes only to be passed by Cool Shadows.

◗ She appears to be training well coming into this event, as she breezed five furlongs in 1:01.60 on the main track on Dec. 1.

Curlin’s Voyage, by Curlin

Last 3 Beyers: 63-79-66

◗ She’ll be looking to rebound in the Ontario Lassie after finishing fourth in the Princess Elizabeth as the 2-5 favorite.

◗ She won a maiden race by 4 3/4 lengths when stretching out around two turns on Sept. 8, and then won the Grade 3 Mazarine Stakes via disqualification. Patrick Husbands will take over in the saddle for Eurico Da Silva.

Avie’s Samurai, by First Samurai

Last 3 Beyers: 72-69-61

◗ She’s one of two horses in the field for trainer Josie Carroll, who will also saddle Curlin’s Voyage. Carroll won this race in 2010 with Inglorious.

◗ Avie’s Samurai finished third in the Princess Elizabeth after an inside stalking trip. She made up ground in the stretch, and held a narrow lead just inside the sixteenth pole before being passed by Cool Shadows and Merveilleux.