Financingavailable solid at short price

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - A victory by Financingavailable will not generate much of a return on investment in Monday's $125,000 Classy 'n Smart Stakes at Woodbine.

But seeking a more lucrative option isn't a recommended alternative as Financingavailable looks gilt-edged against six Ontario-sired filly and mare rivals in the 1 1/16-mile Classy 'n Smart.

Even trainer Lorne Richards, who tends to take a cautious approach when it comes to discussing his chances, is allowing himself a little latitude.

"I'm never too confident," said Richards. "But, she's as good as I can get her. She's got so much try in her; she runs her eyeballs out."

Financingavailable, a 5-year-old owned by K.K. Sangara, was purchased privately in the summer of 2004 and has been a gold mine for her current connections.

In 12 starts for Richards and Sangara, Financingavailable has 8 wins, 3 seconds, and 1 third. Overall, she sports a career record of 9-4-3 and earnings of $660,839 from 18 starts.

Financingavailable, the 124-pound highweight, will be seeking her third straight stakes win in the Classy 'n Smart, having taken the Victoriana over 1 1/16 miles on turf and the Algoma over 1 1/16 miles on Polytrack.

The Algoma actually was Financingavailable's first start around two turns, and she made all the running to score by 3 1/4 lengths. In the Victoriana, she rallied from seven lengths off a quick pace to win by 5 1/4 lengths.

"I think she can do whatever she needs to do," said Richards. "She's pretty versatile. She'll run as far as she can and as fast as you ask her."

Coastal Fortress, returning on short notice after finishing fourth under fourth-level allowance terms at 1 1/16 miles here last Wednesday night, looms the chief threat to the choice.

Trained by Josie Carroll, Coastal Fortress had finished second in back-to-back open filly-and-mare stakes over the inner track this summer and was debuting on Polytrack on Wednesday.

"I thought maybe first time over that surface, she never really seemed to get comfortable and run her race," said Carroll. "She came out of it very well, so we thought we'd go right back in the Ontario sire stakes."

Schooner Bay, last year's Classy 'n Smart winner, comes into this year's running off a second-place finish on grass behind Sheer Enchantment under third-level allowance terms.

Sheer Enchantment was recordi