Day Phillips has strong pair for Ontario Matron

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Catherine Day Phillips will send out two contenders in Saturday’s $125,000 Ontario Matron Stakes: 2018 Woodbine Oaks winner Dixie Moon and the improving Katie Baby, both daughters of Curlin.

Dixie Moon was fourth in her May 5 season opener, an open allowance that was a prep for the Trillium Stakes. She awaited room along the inside in a stalking position in the Grade 3 Trillium before coming on late to just miss second to Hot Cash, while Miss Mo Mentum won by daylight.

Day Phillips is taking Dixie Moon off Lasix for the 1 1/16-mile Ontario Matron.

“The Lasix seems to be quite hard on her,” Day Phillips said. “She’s been breezing without it, and she’s been fine. We’ve always run her on Lasix, and it’s time to try her without it. She doesn’t carry a lot of flesh, so the Lasix takes a little more out of her than it would a bigger, stronger horse.”

Katie Baby sprinted in her two races this year. She aired in a first-level allowance before ending up second in the Grade 3 Hendrie Stakes. She finished a close third the only time she went long, which came in last year’s Bison City Stakes.

“She’s doing well,” Day Phillips said. “I think she deserves a chance at the big guns, so to speak. She’s a developing filly for sure and is coming along nicely. “She handled a mile and a sixteenth well last year, so we’re hoping that she’ll handle it now.”

The Grade 3 Ontario Matron, the eighth of 11 races Saturday, attracted 11 fillies and mares, including two supplements.

KEY CONTENDERS

Dixie Moon, by Curlin
Last 3 Beyers: 81-83-76

◗ With regular rider Eurico Da Silva retaining the mount on Katie Baby, Emma-Jayne Wilson picks up the mount on Dixie Moon.

Katie Baby, by Curlin
Last 3 Beyers: 89-81-78

◗ She came wide in the Hendrie to finish a fast-closing second to Woodbine’s leading female sprinter, Summer Sunday.

“She had kind of a funny trip,” Day Phillips recalled. “She was fanned wide and lost some ground on the turn. I think she’ll look forward to a nice, clean trip.”

Miss Mo Mentum, by Uncle Mo
Last 3 Beyers: 83-78-74

◗ Trained by Mark Casse, she appears to be a legitimate horse for course here on the Tapeta. She defeated Dixie Moon in last year’s Grade 3 Selene Stakes but didn’t win again until 13 months later in the June 16 Trillium.

Sense of Bravery, by Street Sense
Last 3 Beyers: 73-88-93

◗ The Grade 3-placed comebacker has worked like the wind for her first start for trainer Kevin Attard, who has sent out an array of live layoff runners in routes at the meet.