Grass fillies meet at Woodbine one week later

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – No Explaining and Exclusive Love were both scratched from Sunday’s Lake Placid at Saratoga when that Grade 3 stakes was taken off the turf. They will both reappear Saturday at Woodbine in the $150,000 Ontario Colleen Stakes, a one-mile grass route for 3-year-old fillies.

The European import No Explaining has scored twice in allowance company on the turf here this year, winning over seven and nine furlongs. Most recently, she came from far back to finish third in the Grade 2 Lake George Stakes at Saratoga, missing second by a half-length to Exclusive Love.

Trainer Roger Attfield said he had anticipated a strong showing from No Explaining in the 1 1/16-mile Lake George.

“She had been training very well,” said Attfield. “She’s quite a nice filly, and is working with a good pedigree.”

Attfield thinks No Explaining might ultimately find her calling over longer distances.

“I think she’s a mile and a quarter filly down the road,” Attfield said. “I was sprinting her early because the races were there, and she’s fast. She’s got speed, but she acts like she’ll go far.”

Exclusive Love was an ordinary performer on Polytrack until trainer Mark Casse tried her on the grass June 25, when she captured a one-mile allowance over older rivals.

Exclusive Love was dismissed at 57-1 in the Lake George, but wound up second to another Woodbine-based filly, Perfect Shirl, who returned to finish third in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks.

Casse also entered the probable pacemaker in the Colleen, Barracks Road, who captured the one-mile Ontario Damsel Stakes in front-running style July 10. She also went to Saratoga for her last race, finishing a close third after setting a fast pace in the one-mile Hattie Moseley Stakes.

Sharp Secretary defeated six shippers Aug. 7 while taking the seven-furlong Duchess Stakes, and was previously victorious over older allowance opposition. She finished a close fourth after a troubled trip in her lone turf experience, which came in the June 13 Alywow Stakes.

Somme won the 6 1/2-furlong Alywow from off the pace. She subsequently ran second as the heavy favorite in the Ontario Damsel, and is exiting a fourth in the 1 1/4-mile Wonder Where Stakes.

Crescenda is making her local debut after finishing a wide fifth in the Lake George. She was previously second in the Grade 2 Sands Point Stakes at Belmont.