Gierkink's review: Spring in the Air continues to prove self

Oxley, Casse double up

John Oxley, the Sovereign Award-winning owner in each of the past two years, combined with perennial leading trainer Mark Casse to score twice on the card, most notably with Spring in the Air in the Grade 3 Hendrie Stakes.

Favored Spring in the Air ($7.10) took the overland route and moved down five rivals in the stretch to prevail by daylight over local longshots Mekong Delta, Aunt Els, and Part the Seas. Shippers Unhedged My Option, Purely Hot, and Kitty Wine completed the order of finish.

Spring in the Air was Canada’s champion 2-year-old filly in 2012, when she captured the Grade 1 Alcibiades at Keeneland. She seems poised to become one of the elite older females on the grounds.

Turf racing back

Smartyfly ($3.30) was a workmanlike winner of the first turf race of the meet, an optional claimer over seven furlongs, a distance which is shorter than what she prefers. The portable rail was in lane 2, and the course was firm and to the liking of 32-1 shot Players Club, who rallied for second while tagged for $60,000.

Outside best

Outside horses won eight of the nine Polytrack events if you include favored Serious Indeed, who went three wide on the first turn before setting slow middle fractions in the two path en route to an easy score in a starter allowance. The lone rail-hugging winner was Cap in Hand, who dug in gamely to graduate by a nose in a seven-furlong maiden special.

Horses to watch

LLANARMON
Trainer: Roger Attfield
Last race: May 24, 9th
Finish: 3rd by 5
Beyer: 77

She came wide from off slow fractions to finish a clear third against older opposition in the allowance prep for the Trillium Stakes, which should set her up nicely for the June 15 Woodbine Oaks.

BABE’S RULER
Trainer: Joan Scott
Last race: May 24, 1st
Finish: 3rd by 3 1/2
Beyer: 66

She fought for the lead along the rail before weakening over an outside-favoring track in her local debut in a first-level allowance with a claiming option. The daughter of Roman Ruler should be more effective with a race over the track.