Go for Launch auditions for Breeders' Cup in Algonquin Stakes
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Go for Launch puts her unbeaten record on the line Saturday at Woodbine in the Grade 3 Algonquin, a five-furlong inner turf dash for 2-year-olds that was won by the future Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Cy Fair in 2025.
Go for Launch could be Breeders’ Cup-bound herself with a strong showing Saturday, according to trainer Kevin Attard. The daughter of Flightline and Canadian Horse of the Year Starship Jubilee won her debut in a five-furlong inner turf sprint in front-running style here July 25.
After a stalking trip in the Aug. 26 Bolton Landing Stakes at Saratoga, Go for Launch kicked in through the stretch to win going away under a textbook ride from Pietro Moran.
“She got a good trip – sat right behind the speed – tipped out at the right time,” Attard recalled. “Hopefully, we can get a similar trip in the Algonquin.”
Go for Launch is adding Lasix to her arsenal. She breezed three furlongs in 35.20 seconds last Saturday, her third straight bullet work on the dirt training track at Woodbine.
“She worked well – a nice, easy three-eighths,” Attard said. “She can be a little headstrong. I don’t like to bring her out to [the main track] too much. It seems to be working. I don’t want to get her too ramped up.”
Five others were entered in the Algonquin, including the shippers Allura, Excessif, and Lou’s Room.
The speedy Allura won her opener in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special on July 3 at Saratoga, after which she finished second in $200,000 Bolton Landing. She has been working over the Tapeta at Belmont for trainer Kelsey Danner, whose shippers to Woodbine are usually live.
Excessif graduated second time out Aug. 16 at Colonial before ending up seventh there most recently after an awkward break in the Rosie’s Stakes. Her trainer, Graham Motion, won the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor here Sept. 12 with Gimme a Nother.
Lou’s Room is coming off a neck loss in a maiden special at Saratoga for George Weaver, another trainer who’s had success here in stakes.
Rounding out the field are the stakes-placed maiden Speaker’s Speech and Mrs D, who was a prominent third last out in the 6 1/2-furlong Catch a Glimpse Stakes on the main turf.
Dance Smartly
Proctor Street and Eponine will renew their rivalry in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Dance Smartly for fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles on the main turf.
Trained by Brendan Walsh, Proctor Street shipped in from Saratoga to take the Grade 2 Canadian here Aug. 15 over Eponine, whom she followed along the inside before closing outside for a neck score under Pietro Moran.
“It was a perfect trip,” Moran said. “Everything fell into place. We got covered up, saved ground, followed the right horse, and she did the rest.”
Trainer Kevin Attard sent out the Irish-bred Eponine to win a first-level allowance at Saratoga before her valiant effort in the Canadian, for which she got a 93 Beyer.
“She lost a heartbreaker,” Attard said. “The winner sat behind her. The two of them made their move, and she was just second best.”
Attard said he bypassed last month’s Grade 1 E.P. Taylor with the 4-year-old due to the distance.
“I don’t think she wants to go 10 furlongs,” Attard explained. “I think she’s an improving, younger horse. I didn’t want to throw her in against the wolves just like that.”
Warming won two of her last three starts in graded stakes and should be among the favorites. Trainer Graham Motion sent her to Del Mar to land the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon as the chalk on Aug. 8.
Ozara was supplemented by trainer Miguel Clement. The Irish import finished a dull sixth in each of her last two starts in graded stakes at Saratoga. She’s going back on Lasix, which she used when a wide sixth in the Grade 3 Royal North here in late June.
Elysian Field, the 2023 Canadian champion 3-year-old filly and Woodbine Oaks winner, won her last outing over Ontario-breds in the about 1 1/8-mile Belfountain Stakes on the main course.
Pin Up Betty ships in from Kentucky after missing the board in each of her last two outings in graded stakes. She took the June 27 Anchorage Stakes at Churchill over Warming.
Power of Destiny wound up fourth in the Canadian, from which third-place finisher Lupa exited to win the Grade 3 Ontario Matron.
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