Doyle points four fillies to Woodbine Oaks

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Mike Doyle already had a strong contingent of fillies to run in the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks on June 12, but he added another to the list of probable starters after Tiz Imaginary won the Fury Stakes on May 22. Doyle is now pointing four fillies toward the Woodbine Oaks: Tiz Imaginary, Lady Angela Stakes winner Crumlin Spirit, Garavogue Colleen, and Dublin Diva.

Tiz Imaginary had to overcome a bit of trouble in the Fury caused by Crumlin Spirit. But once Tiz Imaginary found room, she rallied nicely along the outside to win by a half-length over Jennifer Lynnette.

Tiz Imaginary has yet to travel around two turns but does have two stakes wins to her credit, including one over seven furlongs in the Fury. She also won the Fanfreluche Stakes over six furlongs as a 2-year-old last season.

“She’ll go if she comes out of the [Fury] okay, which I think she has,” Doyle said.

Crumlin Spirit has had a productive campaign, winning the Lady Angela and finishing third in the Fury, both over seven furlongs.

“She had a bad trip from the 1 hole [in the Fury],” Doyle said. “She caused a little trouble, but it’s absolutely nobody’s fault. It’s just the way it happened. The 1 hole killed her the first time this year, too. I don’t think she’ll have any trouble with the trip. I’d like to have four weeks instead of three, but it is what it is.”

Garavogue Colleen has been second in her two starts this season, both Ontario-sired allowance races over 1 1/16 miles on Tapeta. Garavogue Colleen has run second three straight times dating to last season, when she was the runner-up in the Ontario Lassie Stakes. Doyle said Garavogue Colleen should appreciate the added distance in the 1 1/8-mile Oaks.

“She just wants to go long, and she’ll come late, I think,” he said.

Doyle will send Dublin Diva to the Oaks on the strength of an allowance win over seven furlongs in her most recent start May 7. The Oaks will be Dublin Diva’s stakes debut, but she has won two of her first three starts.

“I think a lot of her, I just don’t know if she’s quite seasoned yet,” Doyle said. “It’s five weeks between races, which I like.”