DePaulo's chances grow on grass

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Trainer Mike DePaulo will run a pair of Bold Executive fillies, Birsay and Grandy's Glory, in the $125,000 Passing Mood Stakes, a seven-furlong turf race for Ontario-sired 3-year-old fillies at Woodbine on Wednesday.

Birsay was an astute $40,000 claim last November by New Venture Stable. She finished second in her second start of the season on the Polytrack, but has blossomed in her two most recent outings on the grass.

Birsay graduated in a six-furlong maiden special for Ontario-sired fillies June 7, and used a good stalking trip to win a seven-furlong Ontario-sired allowance by a neck July 6.

"She really jumped up on the turf," said DePaulo. "I'm not really sure why. Her best races have been on turf, and seven-eighths is certainly within her range."

Grandy's Glory will be racing on the grass for the first time. She won her maiden second time out at 2, and subsequently took the six-furlong Fanfreluche Stakes over Saskawea.

Grandy's Glory won her season opener on the front end in an open second-level allowance, then wound up fourth in the Fury Stakes. She has been laid up since coming up empty in the May 26 Lady Angela Stakes.

"We tried to rate her in the Lady Angela and it didn't work," DePaulo said.

DePaulo said he believes Grandy's Glory will enjoy the surface change.

"She worked well on the turf last year, and we never got to run her on it," he said. "She worked good on it the other day, and the Bold Executives handle the grass well. We're just hoping that she can get the seven-eighths."

You Will Love Me could be the favorite off her solid showing in the July 8 Ontario Damsel Stakes. She scored an upset at 15-1 in the seven-furlong Lady Angela, and followed that with a victory in an Ontario-sired allowance.

In her turf debut, over a course labeled good in the Damsel, You Will Love Me finished second to the Mark Casse-trained favorite, Quiet Action.

Trainer Earl Barnett said You Will Love Me is probably at her best on the Polytrack, but he thinks firm ground should suit her adequately.

"She's only had the one [turf] test, and she got tired," Barnett said. "I don't know how good that horse is who beat her, but Mark told me after the race that she's a super little filly. My filly could be a pretty good bet on firm turf."