Ginger Brew proven class in Oaks

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Stronach Stable will take two shots at Sunday's $500,000 Woodbine Oaks when the powerful outfit sends out a pair of Brian Lynch-trained fillies, Ginger Brew and Money My Honey.

The 53rd running of the Oaks is the feature on an appealing 10-race card that includes two other stakes, the $150,000 Victoria Park and the $100,000 Alywow.

Ginger Brew will be favored in the nine-furlong Oaks, the first leg of the Canadian triple tiara, a series for 3-year-old fillies that includes two other Woodbine Stakes, the June 29 Bison City at 1 1/16 miles and the July 26 Wonder Where Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on the turf.

Ginger Brew made four starts during the winter and spring in Florida. After finishing second in two straight allowances on the dirt at Gulfstream, she captured a 1 1/16-mile turf allowance there while registering an 88 Beyer Speed Figure.

Most recently on the grass in the nine-furlong Calder Oaks, Ginger Brew closed three-wide from fourth to prevail over a quality field, and was awarded a 94 Beyer.

Ginger Brew hasn't been worse than second in five starts. She has banked $198,295.

"She's a joy to have in your barn," said Lynch. "She seems to handle all the surfaces. It makes your job a lot easier."

Ginger Brew won her career debut at six furlongs on the Polytrack here in October, and Lynch said he has no concerns with running her long on the synthetic track.

"I don't think it will bother her," said Lynch. "She worked very good over it the other day. We gave her a little break after the Calder Oaks, and she was [blowing] a little, but I was very happy with the way she worked. I don't have any concerns about her going long."

Money My Honey was second in both of her starts here last fall, and then won her maiden at Gulfstream in January. She subsequently finished third in a nine-furlong allowance on the dirt at Gulfstream, and is coming off an allowance win here on the Polytrack.

"I could probably take the blame for her one bad race at Gulfstream," Lynch said. "I breezed her a bit too quickly, too close to the race. It put her on the muscle, and she wanted to pull going into the first turn. Normally, she likes to loaf along on a long rein. The way she was pulling, I thought she might give it up at the half-mile pole, but she hung in there to get beat just a neck."

Lynch believes Money My Honey is ready to step up into stakes company.

"She's not a very big filly, and after we came out of Florida, I didn't want to grind on her too hard," Lynch said. "I just wanted to get that 'A-other-than' into her. She got that done, and it was enough for me to say that we'll give the Oaks a try. I don't think the distance will be a problem with her, because she's a grinder."

Shilla should be the second wagering choice off her two consecutive stakes scores this spring, in the La Voyageuse and the Fury.

Shilla has never competed beyond seven furlongs, but trainer Nick Gonzalez is confident that she will stay a route of ground.

"She should be able to get two turns," Gonzalez said. "When she gallops in the morning, horses can blow by her and work on the inside of her, and she doesn't turn a hair."

Trainer Mark Casse, who won the Oaks in 2006 with Kimchi and in 2007 with Sealy Hill, is going for the three-peat with the swift sprinter Gloriously.

Gloriously won her first two starts in the United States, and is coming off a narrow loss in the seven-furlong Fury.

"She's unbelievably fast, and she's really game," said Casse, who is taking the blinkers off her.

Initforreall, a late bloomer trained by Arthur Silvera, was a wide-closing third last time out at 1 1/16 miles in the Grade 3 Selene Stakes. The Oaks distance should be well within her range.