Gale Force preps for Selene in Friday allowance

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Grade 3 Mazarine Stakes winner Gale Force returns to Woodbine on Friday in the featured first race, an open allowance route that serves as the prep for the Grade 3 Selene Stakes.

Gale Force was bet down to 4-1 on debut Oct. 8 in the 1 1/16-mile Mazarine. After tracking the leaders, she wore down Let It Ride Mom in the stretch to prevail by a head over that future stakes winner.

Gale Force ended up seventh in a Nov. 16 allowance on turf at Churchill and then wintered in Florida. Her lone outing there was a troubled fifth on the grass in a first-level allowance Jan. 1 at Gulfstream.

Eurico Da Silva will ride Gale Force for trainer Mark Casse, who won a recent allowance at Keeneland with last year’s Grade 1 Natalma winner, Victory to Victory.

Nine races are carded for Friday. The Jackpot Hi 5 carryover is $13,000.

KEY CONTENDERS

Gale Force, by Giant’s Causeway

Beyers: 67-54-64

◗ The impeccably bred chestnut is out of Canadian champion Sealy Hill, the lone winner of the Canadian Triple Tiara. She’s a half-sister to Canadian champion female sprinter and Grade 2 winner Hillaby and Grade 3 stakes winner Belle Hill.

Darkwingsoverdubai, by Raven’s Pass

Beyers: 80-85-61

◗ She went unbeaten going short on the Tapeta at Golden Gate in her first two starts before finishing a troubled third in the Grade 3 Bourbonette Oaks on the Polytrack on March 25 at Turfway.

◗ She recently changed trainers, going from Jerry Hollendorfer to Roger Attfield, who has modest stats with new acquisitions.

Grizzel, by Kodiac

Beyers: 79-64

◗ The Irish-bred was a minor player in stakes in England in 2016. This is her first try around two turns, and she’s coming off a fourth in a one-mile turf stakes at Gulfstream in her second North American start.

Diadura, by Hard Spun

Beyers: 37-78-66

◗ After romping in the Arlington-Washington Lassie on Polytrack in September, she finished up the track in the Grade 1 Alcibiades on the dirt at Keeneland.

◗ The comebacker has been working bullets at Fair Hill in Maryland for trainer Mike Stidham, who won the April 16 Star Shoot Stakes here with R Naja.

My Arch Enemy, by Arch

Last 3 Beyers: 64-56-53

◗ She faded to eighth in a March 19 starter optional-claiming race on the Gulfstream grass, from which the fifth- and 10th-place finishers both exited to score.

◗ Gary Boulanger rides her for Casse, a high-percentage combo. He might put her on the point in this paceless event.