French import tough second off layoff

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - French import Marche de Paix could be a winner Thursday at Woodbine in her second North American outing, in a second-level allowance scheduled for a mile on the grass.

Marche de Paix competed against some very talented opposition in 2002, during which she won a listed race at Saint-Cloud while getting a respectable Timeform rating of 104. She also finished sixth in a Group 3 race won by top German filly Walzerkoenigin, who was recently a troubled fifth here in the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes. Perhaps her best 2002 effort was a close fourth-place finish behind future Grade 1 winner Heat Haze, who finished fourth in last Saturday's Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Anita.

Marche de Paix was off for more than 10 months when she debuted for trainer Roger Attfield in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance here Oct. 11. She trailed the rest of the eight-horse field on the backstretch, and lacked room at the top of the stretch, before mounting a belated rally to finish third.

Leading rider Todd Kabel retains the mount on Marche de Paix, who has won 2 of 4 starts at a mile, the distance of Thursday's race

Also entered in Thursday's feature are Peek a Boo Sara, Ariel's Melody, Sweet Dynamite, Dancewithasoldier, Sinhouse, Msbaileyscream, Cruising Executive, and Flashy Thunder. Heyhowhatdoyouknow was entered for the main track only.

Ariel's Melody, winner of the restricted Victoriana Stakes over Peek a Boo Sara in 2002, could be ready to attain her peak in just her fourth start of the year. She finished second while running out of her conditions in a Sept. 7 optional claimer, and was recently a prominent fourth in a 1 1/8-mile allowance taken off the grass.

Cruising Executive beat Ontario-sired 3-year-old fillies in the seven-furlong Passing Mood Stakes in July. She subsequently ran fourth in the open Ontario Colleen Handicap and fifth in the restricted La Prevoyante Stakes, but is coming off a fade job in the Carotene Stakes, in which she might have been used as a rabbit for the winner.

Dancewithasoldier upset Pop Princess when she returned from a two-month layoff in winning a one-mile entry-level allowance Oct. 12.

Msbaileyscream has done most of her optimum running while sprinting on the grass, and could be a pace factor with the stretch out from 6 1/2 furlongs.

Sinhouse ran two solid races going short on the grass in September, and can handle either surface when she is on her game.