Indian Apple Is primed for dash try

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Stakes winner Indian Apple Is deserves top billing in the six-furlong second race at Woodbine on Wednesday, a third-level allowance with an $80,000 claiming option.

Indian Apple Is was well regarded by trainer Bob Tiller when she debuted last May 9, but she had to settle for third then behind future Grade 1 Alabama winner Careless Jewel and Tapenade.

Two weeks later, Indian Apple Is graduated on the front end, a style that she utilized when she prevailed in a first-level allowance Aug. 15. She was declared a nonstarter in the latter race, however, because she broke through the gate a split second before the others.

Indian Apple Is continued to blossom in the fall, when she won two 6 1/2-furlong sprints, most notably the Ruling Angel Stakes. She finished fifth behind Carem Cresent and subsequent Canadian champion 3-year-old filly Milwaukee Appeal in her final 3-year-old outing in the Jammed Lovely Stakes.

Indian Apple Is wound up a distant second after flashing speed when she returned from a winter layoff April 11, an effort that should set her up nicely for this six-furlong dash. Chantal Sutherland has the mount on the Frank DiGiulio Jr. homebred.

La Rocca, a front-running router trained by Terry Jordan, has been idle since mid-October, when she ran second in the Grade 3 Ballerina Stakes at Hastings. She captured two stakes on the dirt last year, the B.C. Oaks at Hastings and the Sonoma Handicap at Northlands.

La Rocca hit the board in all three of her synthetic-track excursions, including a maiden win over Keeneland's Polytrack.

High Mist is making her first start following a seven-month layoff. Trained by Sue Leslie, she captured the six-furlong Fanfreluche Stakes two years ago during her 2-year-old campaign, but hasn't found the mark since then.

Deeveetee battled three wide on the lead with Indian Apple Is before fading to fourth when she came off the sidelines April 11. Her lone victory in 10 starts last year came in a difficult allowance route on the Polytrack, in which she barely held off the talented Aurora Lights after setting an honest pace.

Mommie Whiz finished third in the Grade 3 Royal North Stakes last August. This will be her first start for trainer Hank Gensler, who was trainer Steve Asmussen's Woodbine assistant in 2009.

Rounding out the field is Pretty Miss Trippi, who scored twice here last fall in allowance company.