Distance no worry for Lunar Linda

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Lunar Linda doesn't have any flashy Beyer Speed Figures and has only run against maidens, but her two-turn experience should be an asset in Wednesday's $125,000 South Ocean Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile race for Ontario-sired 2-year-old fillies at Woodbine.

Lunar Linda finished second in two consecutive sprints before she graduated in a mile-and-70-yard maiden special for Ontario-sired fillies Oct. 17. She rallied four-wide from off slow fractions to complete the distance in 1:44 and was awarded a 67 Beyer.

Trainer Ian Black said Lunar Linda doesn't possess the pedigree of a router on the dam's side of her pedigree, but her sire, Perigee Moon, has been a stamina influence.

"There are more Perigee Moons who want to go two turns than you would think," Black said.

Black believes somebody will jump up and give Lunar Linda all she can handle Wednesday.

"There's always somebody who's going to handle [a route of ground] fine the first time," Black said. "But having won around two turns, I think she deserves a shot."

The sprinter best suited to the South Ocean distance might be Sans Sousi, who won her maiden second time out in June and went on to be competitive in several stakes.

Trainer Mike Doyle believes Sans Sousi has the right demeanor to handle a middle distance.

"She's real sensible and acts like an old horse," Doyle said. "That's why I'm giving it a try. She's by Bold Executive, who gets any kind of horse that you can imagine. I'm hoping that Jono Jones can get her to settle, and maybe she'll finish. If she does, it will open up a new career for her next year."

Sans Souci finished second while being awarded a 76 Beyer in each of her two most recent outings in six-furlong stakes, the Victorian Queen and Fanfreluche.

Doyle said the late summer freshening he gave Sans Souci was to her benefit.

"I gave her a little break, because I ran her close together," Doyle said. "She put on a bunch of weight. She's actually grown a lot."

Dash It Dreamer showed blazing speed in her first two starts. She won her six-furlong opener and was a fading fourth in the Victorian Queen.

Trainer Reade Baker took the blinkers off Dash It Dreamer most recently in a six-furlong allowance, and she closed strongly to finish a half-length back in second.