Deceptive Vision training well for Nassau Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Deceptive Vision, the winner of the Grade 3 Doubledogdare Stakes on dirt at Keeneland in her first start of the year April 17, is on target for a return to turf in the Grade 2 Nassau Stakes at Woodbine next Saturday, trainer Malcolm Pierce said.

Pierce said Deceptive Vision has come out of the Doubledogdare Stakes well and has been training forwardly ahead of the Nassau.

“She’s good,” he said. “She had a very good work on the training track [May 9]. She deserves a chance at this race.”

Looking ahead, Pierce said Deceptive Vision’s 2015 campaign likely will mirror her 2014 campaign, with starts in the Nassau, the Grade 2 Dance Smartly Stakes, and the Grade 2 Canadian Stakes. However, Pierce added that going out of town is not out of the question if Deceptive Vision proves herself.

“We sure would like to fit in the three starts in Canada to be eligible for a Sovereign Award,” he said. “We’ll take it one race at a time. If she proves that she should go out of town for something, we’re not afraid to ship.”

Deceptive Vision earned a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Anita last season with her win in the Canadian Stakes but instead stayed home and ran third in the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes. Pierce said a trip to the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland this year is a possibility should Deceptive Vision earn her way there.

“That’s kind of in the back of our minds,” Pierce said. “Either the Breeders’ Cup or the E.P. Taylor. I don’t think you can do both, so we’ll have to make that decision as we get a little further down the road with her. For now, we want to get started right here at Woodbine with her.”

Overheard also on track for Nassau

Overheard, who defeated Deceptive Vision in the Dance Smartly Stakes here last season, is also being pointed to the Nassau, Pierce said.

“I had Overheard nominated out of town, but I want to get her started here, and then we’ll probably need to separate those fillies,” he said. “But for the first time this year, they probably don’t need to travel to run.”

Overheard made her first start of the year in an allowance race over a mile on soft turf April 9 at Keeneland, finishing an even fourth.

“Maybe she was just a little rusty,” Pierce said. “She’s trained very well ever since. I’m expecting her to run her race [in the Nassau]. She’s in good order, so there’s nothing else to do but lead her over there and see what she’s got.”