Executrix speediest of Gonzalez's trio

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Trainer Nick Gonzalez will have a strong hand in Saturday's $125,000 Nandi Stakes at Woodbine when he runs Executrix, Executive Decision, and Do It Anyway as uncoupled entries in the six-furlong sprint for Ontario-sired 2-year-old fillies.

Executrix is the most accomplished of the trio. She won her maiden second time out, earning a 79 Beyer Speed Figure, and then wound up fifth after breaking a bit slowly in the five-furlong My Dear Stakes on July 2. The My Dear winner, Dancing Allstar, was subsequently beaten a nose when facing males in the Colin Stakes.

Last time out in the 5 1/2-furlong Shady Well Stakes, Executrix set a lively pace and finished a clear second to the heavily favored Alvena.

"We've used her pretty good," said Gonzalez. "We're going to run her and then maybe cool it for the rest of the year."

Executive Decision finished a close second in both of her outings, which came in shorter maiden special sprints.

"She was a neck away from being a winner either time," said Gonzalez. "She got beat by some decent horses, and several horses who were behind her came back to win. The added distance looks like it's going to help her a lot."

First-time starter Do It Anyway has been working bullets on the dirt at Fort Erie, but she hasn't been to Woodbine for a work on the Polytrack.

"She was a bit of a handful, which is why I've kept her with me at Fort Erie," said Gonzalez. "Usually, I send them up to my wife at Woodbine when they get close to running, but in her case, because we treated her so delicately, I didn't want to upset anything that we had already done.

"I know it's a big challenge when you haven't worked on the Polytrack and haven't seen all the Woodbine commotion, but she's been doing real good, and I'm going to take a chance. She's beaten everybody that I've breezed her against."

Gonzalez said all three fillies are in fine fettle.

"I'm really happy with the way all of them all are going into the race," said Gonzalez. "Executrix is pretty quick, and the other two have stamina, which is one of the reasons why I'm running all three."

The role of Nandi favorite could go to Authenicat, a daughter of successful freshman sire D'wildcat.

Authenicat finished second to Executrix in her debut. She defeated Executive Decision when she won a five-furlong maiden special July 1.