Gamble’s Ghost back on Polytrack in Mazarine Stakes
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Gamble’s Ghost, the runner-up in the Grade 2 Natalma Stakes, will return to Polytrack in search of her first graded stakes victory in Sunday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Mazarine Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Woodbine.
After an impressive 8 1/4-length victory going seven furlongs on Polytrack in her career debut Aug. 14, Gamble’s Ghost could not catch pacesetter Catch a Glimpse in the Natalma on turf Sept. 12, losing by five lengths. Trainer Josie Carroll said she was pleased with the effort from Gamble’s Ghost.
“There was nothing wrong with her grass race,” she said. “She just got off to a bit of a slow start.”
Gamble’s Ghost could potentially use this start as a prep for the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland at the end of the month, depending on her performance Sunday.
“I think at this point we’re going to take things one step at a time,” she said. “We’ll get this race under our belt and see what she is.”
Key Contenders
Gamble’s Ghost (Last 2 Beyers: 80-74)
◗ Following a win at seven furlongs and a runner-up effort in a graded stakes at a mile, Carroll said she had no concerns about Gamble’s Ghost traveling around two turns for the first time in the 1 1/16-mile Mazarine.
“I think she should be fine at the distance,” she said. “I think she’s just a nice horse all around.”
Conquest Soprano (Last 3 Beyers: 63-55-63)
◗ She won her maiden in her fifth start last out, going seven furlongs on Polytrack and holding off a hard-charging Sonic Cyster by a neck.
◗ She’s one of just two fillies in the field with stakes experience, having placed in the My Dear Stakes over five furlongs in June.
Swoop and Strike (Last Beyer: 63)
◗ She won her maiden in her first start Aug. 21, rallying from off the pace while going seven furlongs on Polytrack.
◗ Trainer Malcolm Pierce was hoping that an allowance race scheduled for Sunday would fill, but when it did not, he entered Swoop and Strike here instead.
“The main goal is to try to get her to the Princess Elizabeth Stakes on Nov. 1,” Pierce said. “I think she could really use a race for experience. This wasn’t my first choice, obviously. We like to take our time with our young horses, but we were kind of forced into this spot.”
Garavogue Colleen (Last Beyer: 61)
◗ She debuted going 1 1/16 miles on Polytrack on Sept. 13 and rallied nicely behind a slow pace to win by 3 1/4 lengths. That race saw a slew of scratches after being washed off the grass, with only four horses starting.