Crowley's Law brings strong company lines into River Memories
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Going by the company she’s been keeping, Crowley’s Law stands out in Saturday’s $100,000 River Memories Stakes, and she could end a long drought in the one-mile turf route at Woodbine.
Crowley’s Law, a miler from England, has started twice in the United States this fall for trainer Thomas Dascombe. She rallied for third in the Grade 3 Noble Damsel at Belmont in September, finishing just a length back in her first race with Lasix.
Crowley’s Law won an allowance over soft turf the last time she tasted victory in June 2014, so it wasn’t surprising to see her run well over soft ground most recently at Keeneland in the Grade 1 First Lady. She was no match for the victorious Tepin but wound up second in a fairly deep 11-horse field. Tepin was pre-entered in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile.
Just eight races were carded for Saturday because of the Breeders Crown Standardbred card that night at Woodbine, which begins at 6:30 Eastern.
KEY CONTENDERS
Crowley’s Law (Beyers: 93-97)
◗ Following a layoff Aug. 8, she was beaten just three-quarters of a length when third in a listed stakes at Haydock. The winner, Realtra, subsequently won a Group 3 event before finishing fifth in a tough Group 1.
◗ The popular Irishman David Moran will ride the 4-year-old. He is fifth in the jockey standings in turf wins with 11.
Notte d’Oro (Last 3 Beyers: 90-83-89)
◗ She has worked a bullet over the synthetic training track at Keeneland since capturing the one-mile Melanie Frances Stakes on the grass Sept. 26 at Arlington.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Trainer Mike Stidham is 0 for 12 at this meet, but he’s 4 for 14 (29 percent) in non-graded stakes at Woodbine over the past five years.
Silent Treat (Last 3 Beyers: 73-86-83)
◗ She finished second in each of her first three outings at the meet, all in one-turn stakes on grass. She faded to sixth after setting slow fractions most recently on Polytrack in the 1 1/16-mile Classy ’n Smart Stakes.
◗ The front-runner might have to deal with Jealous Cat and/or Zensational Bunny on the engine.
Checkered Past (Last 3 Beyers: 80-90-89)
◗ Trainer Malcolm Pierce likes to space races out, and she’s had eight weeks off since finishing a troubled third in the Belle Mahone Stakes on Polytrack.
◗ The Sam-Son Farm homebred is winless in four turf starts, including a pair of seconds in allowance company in 2013.