Gierkink's preview: Fury Stakes sets up fillies for Oaks

Fury Stakes

The $150,000 Fury Stakes should be the final tuneup for several horses eyeing the June 15 Woodbine Oaks, and the seven-furlong test for Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies was once a highly successful Oaks prep.

The lone U.S.-based shipper, Hot and Spicy, is experimenting on Polytrack off a debut victory in a key maiden special on the grass at Gulfstream. Despite breaking from the 1 hole, she figures to be well bet with Luis Contreras retaining the mount.

Hot and Spicy is the second choice on the morning line behind 2-1 favorite Lexie Lou, who’s making her first start for trainer Mark Casse after being sold by John Ross to Gary Barber. Lexie Lou was a belated fourth in her season opener in the six-furlong Star Shoot, an open stakes, and should be better suited to the Fury distance.

Her stablemate, Wild Catomine, notched her seven-furlong debut here April 19 and was recently supplemented to the Oaks. Stakes winners Lapsang and Skylander Girl are also in the nine-horse field.

Plate hopefuls lock horns

Queen’s Plate nominees Smart Spree, Majestic Sunset, and Tower of Texas are the protagonists in the seventh, a 1 1/16-mile maiden special. I prefer the Smart Strike gelding Smart Spree, who rallied from far off a lively pace April 12 to end up second in a grassy maiden special won by Siete C, who came back to romp in an allowance with a 93 Beyer Speed Figure.

Is Money Talks money in the bank?

Money Talks can rebound off a poor season opener in the second, while moving out to a favorable distance. He meets older opposition in the unique event, which combines $20,000 non-winners of three claimers with non-winners of three Ontario-sired allowance types.

10th race key

Snowy Legacy is a pick four single in the 10th, as long as the track isn’t aiding horses racing inside. The flashy chestnut was against the elements in his first race back April 20, when a wide second over a rail-favoring track. A June foal by Milwaukee Brew, Snowy Legacy is going on Lasix and doesn’t have much to beat in this six-furlong maiden special for Ontario-sired stock. The Jackpot Hi 5 carryover is $68,376.