Horses of the Year Caren, Catch a Glimpse clash in Nassau Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Two Canadian Horses of the Year, Caren and Catch a Glimpse, both 4-year-old fillies with speed, will clash in Saturday’s Grade 2, $175,000 Nassau, the first turf stakes of the Woodbine meet.

Caren is the reigning Horse of the Year. She won four races, all stakes, in nine starts last year, including a trio of turf stakes – the Grade 3 Ontario Colleen, the Wonder Where, and the Carotene.

Caren came up empty in her final 2016 outing, the Grade 2 Mrs. Revere at Churchill Downs. After wintering in Florida, she wound up a close fifth going six furlongs here April 23 in the Grade 3 Whimsical on the Tapeta.

Trainer Mike De Paulo was content with Caren’s comeback performance.

“She actually ran a new top on the Ragozin numbers,” De Paulo said. “I think she’s a little better going farther and maybe better on turf. It was a good starting point for her. She’s doing really well.”

Catch a Glimpse should go favored off the company that she’s been keeping. Trained by Mark Casse, she took five of eight starts last year, including the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks, but is winless in her last five outings.

Catch a Glimpse finished second two starts back on March 4 in the Sand Springs Stakes at Gulfstream. The winner, Celestine, came right back to win the Grade 2 Honey Fox. Most recently, in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley at Keeneland, Catch a Glimpse set the pace before tiring in the final furlong to finish four lengths back in eighth.

Five others were entered in the one-mile Nassau. Saturday’s supporting feature is the $125,000 Lady Angela Stakes, a seven-furlong sprint for Ontario-sired 3-year-old fillies.

KEY CONTENDERS

Caren, by Society’s Chairman

Last 3 Beyers: 84-36-84

◗ De Paulo said she struggled over “good” ground in the Mrs. Revere, where she was beaten 32 lengths after vying for the early lead.

“[Jockey Jesse Campbell] said she didn’t handle the turf as soon as she came out of the gate,” De Paulo said. “She was slipping and sliding.”

Catch a Glimpse, by City Zip

Last 3 Beyers: 92-90-93

◗ She was a rare 2-year-old Horse of the Year in 2015, when she won the Grade 2 Natalma here and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland.

Lady Angela Stakes

The Lady Angela will be the stakes debut for Fresh Princess, who had troubled trips in her first two races before graduating with ease in Ontario-sired company April 29. Conquest Vivi, Little Christy, and Silver Princess are the other protagonists in the eight-horse field.