Hazelbrook nearing best form for Seaway Stakes
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The absence of Woodbine’s leading female sprinter, the Presque Isle Masters-bound Loyalty, is good news for the those in Sunday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Seaway Stakes. Reigning Canadian champion female sprinter Hazelbrook has been inching her way back into peak form in time for the seven-furlong event.
Hazelbrook had a banner 2022, winning 4 of 6 outings, along with a pair of seconds in graded stakes. The highlights of her campaign were victories in the Grade 3 Hendrie, the Grade 3 Ontario Fashion, and the Sweet Briar Too Stakes. One of her best performances was a second in the 2022 Seaway to Lady Shakespeare, one of the better fillies and mares to compete at Woodbine in the last decade.
Hazelbrook faded to sixth behind Loyalty when returning from an eight-month layoff in this year’s Hendrie on July 22. She was sharper most recently in a seven-furlong conditioned allowance with an $80,000 claiming option, ending up third while earning an 87 Beyer Speed Figure.
Trainer Lorne Richards said 5-year-old Hazelbrook has had her share of issues that he’s had to keep under control.
“She’s had trouble with bleeding,” Richards said. “It’s something that she didn’t do last year. It seems like one thing after another with her. The main thing right now is to get the bleeding under control, which hopefully we have, and move forward from there.”
Hazelbrook worked a quick half-mile in 48.40 seconds over the Tapeta on Monday.
“She worked good and seemed to come out of it well,” Richards stressed.
Hazelbrook drew post 4 in the nine-horse Seaway lineup.
“I’d like to see her get off the inside,” Richards said. “She’s had inside posts in most of her races. I just think she’s a little better racing on the outside the whole time, where she relaxes a little better.”
Richards was happy to see owner Keith Johns win his first Sovereign Award with Hazelbrook.
“Keith is in it for the enjoyment of the sport,” Richards said. “It meant a lot to him. He doesn’t have the deep pockets that some people have. He’s such a good guy. If it wasn’t for him, I don’t think I’d even be doing this anymore.”
Other contenders include Talk to Ya Later, Ticker Tape Home, and Il Malocchio.
Talk to Ya Later won the minor Algoma Stakes going seven-eighths in 2022. The 4-year-old has blossomed this year while placing in two open stakes. Perhaps her best effort was a wide third in the 6 1/2-furlong Hendrie.
Ticker Tape Home is taking on older rivals off a deceptively good fifth in the nine-furlong Woodbine Oaks, during which she stalked a fast pace before taking control and then flattening out late. Seven furlongs is her preferred distance.
Il Malocchio has been among the leading older female routers on the grounds. The 5-year-old is turning back off a gutsy score in the Grade 3 Trillium for trainer Marty Drexler, who has mediocre numbers going route to sprint.
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