Generous Touch faces several swift invaders in Ruling Angel Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The multiple stakes winner Generous Touch will take on a host of shippers Saturday at Woodbine in the $100,000 Ruling Angel Stakes, a 6 1/2-furlong overnight sprint on the Tapeta for 3-year-old fillies.

Generous Touch showed her versatility in her first turf start, winning the seven-furlong Passing Mood Stakes from a stalking position here July 2. She doubled up on the Tapeta on July 27 in the 1 1/16-mile Eternal Search, setting dawdling fractions en route to a daylight score. Both stakes were for Ontario-sired 3-year-old fillies.

Generous Touch lost all chance of winning after blowing the break in the La Prevoyante Stakes on the grass Aug. 28. She met older Ontario-sired opposition Sept. 25 in the 1 1/16-mile Classy ‘n Smart Stakes on the Tapeta and did well to finish third behind Sweater Weather and Hot Kiss after leading most of the way.

Eurico Da Silva will break the Sid Attard-trained Generous Touch from post 1 in an eight-horse field Saturday.

KEY CONTENDERS

Generous Touch, by Philanthropist

Last 3 Beyers: 86-66-80

◗ Her last three races have been at a mile or 1 1/16 miles. At this stage of her career, is she suited to the 6 1/2-furlong distance of the Ruling Angel?

“I don’t think she’ll mind it,” Attard said. “I kind of like her better at 6 1/2. She can sit back a little and make a run. I really think she doesn’t mind where she runs, and the distance.”

Cactus Copy, by Cactus Ridge

Last 3 Beyers: 68-81-72

◗ She was a wide seventh Aug. 7 in the Duchess Stakes in her only trip to Woodbine. After a narrow loss two starts back in an allowance at her Presque Isle Downs base, she finished 10th in the Grade 2 Preque Isle Downs Masters.

◗ Her trainer, Ryan Walsh, won the 2014 Ruling Angel with Cactus Kris.

Theatric, by Bernardini

Last 3 Beyers: 73-73-0

◗ She won at Presque Isle in her last two outings, a maiden and an allowance race, by a combined 11 1/4 lengths. They were her first two starts for trainer Eoin Harty, who has sent some live runners to Woodbine this year.

World Peace, by Ready’s Image

Last 3 Beyers: 83-70-32

◗ She has one win from two starts on synthetics, an optional-claiming score on Turfway’s Polytrack. The Churchill Downs-based filly captured an allowance sprint on grass at Indiana Grand in her last start.

Crumlin Spirit, by Court Vision

Last 3 Beyers: 77-57-75

◗ She was promoted from fifth to fourth by disqualification when meeting older opposition in a second-level optional claimer here Sept. 17. Her last win came in the restricted Lady Angela Stakes going seven-eighths on May 1.