Deceptive Vision gets another attempt at Nassau Stakes
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Deceptive Vision will try to make amends in Saturday’s $200,000 Nassau, a Grade 2 event for fillies and mares that is the first turf stakes of the Woodbine meet.
Deceptive Vision was much sharper than usual in last year’s Nassau, vying for the lead through quick fractions before flattening out to finish third as the favorite.
“She was very rank,” said trainer Malcolm Pierce. “She’s a lot more settled this year.”
Deceptive Vision went on to narrowly lose the Grade 2 Dance Smartly and then captured the Grade 2 Canadian decisively in September. Her third-place finish in the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor in October should have been good enough for her to garner the Sovereign Award for champion female grass horse, but a late-season surge by Lexie Lou made the difference in a tight vote.
The one-mile Nassau drew a salty field that includes another Pierce-trained 5-year-old, Overheard.
KEY CONTENDERS
Deceptive Vision (Last 3 Beyers: 89-97-98)
◗ The blue-blooded daughter of A.P. Indy won her season opener in the Grade 3 Doubledogdare on dirt at Keeneland.
“She seems to have done well since her last race,” said Pierce, who is 2 for 5 with dirt-to-turf runners over the past two years.
Overheard (Last 3 Beyers: 83-92-86)
◗ She nosed out Deceptive Vision for the win in the 2014 Dance Smartly before placing in two Grade 3 stakes in the U.S.
◗ She was a flat fourth over soft ground when returning from the sidelines in an allowance at Keeneland.
“She didn’t run as well as I thought, but it was a very tough race,” Pierce said. “We know she likes the turf here.”
Stellar Path (Beyer: 90)
◗ The French import, who is based at Belmont with trainer Christophe Clement, prevailed in a four-horse overnight stakes at Aqueduct in her first North American appearance April 17.
Winning Rhythm (Last 3 Beyers: 87-87-85)
◗ She was a minor player in Grade 2 stakes company at Santa Anita before shipping here recently to the barn of trainer Sid Attard.
Surtsey (Last 3 Beyers: 72-76-91)
◗ The three-time stakes winner finished fifth in last year’s Nassau. She was sixth in her season debut in the Powder Break Stakes at Gulfstream.
“I was a little disappointed with her race at Gulfstream, but at least she’s got a race into her,” said trainer Kevin Attard.
Skylander Girl (Last 3 Beyers: 91-87-73)
◗ The probable pacesetter is coming off an easy score on Polytrack in the Grade 3 Hendrie Stakes.