Katie Baby at top of her game for Hendrie

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Katie Baby began her 2019 campaign with a dominant win in allowance company and will seek her first graded stakes victory in Sunday’s Grade 3, $125,000 Hendrie Stakes over 6 1/2-furlongs on Tapeta at Woodbine.

After spending the winter with trainer Catherine Day Phillips at Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida, Katie Baby won a seven-furlong allowance event by five lengths in her first start of the year May 5.

“She was coming off a layoff and had been training very well in Florida,” Day Phillips said. “We were really looking forward to her running up here. We expected her to run well, and she ran to our expectations.”

Katie Baby did not race as a 2-year-old and made three starts last season as a 3-year-old, finishing in the money each time, including a narrow third-place finish in the Bison City Stakes last July.

“We threw a lot at her fairly quickly as a 3-year-old trying to take advantage of some of the restricted races,” Day Phillips said. “She ran well. She was third, just beaten a head, really. It was heartbreaking she lost because she ran so well.”

Katie Baby has breezed twice ahead of her graded stakes debut in the Hendrie, including a four-furlong breeze in 47.60 seconds on June 1.

“She’s in good order and fingers crossed she’ll run well again,” Day Phillips said. “She’s had a bit of a break and some time off, so hopefully she’ll run well on Sunday.”

Key contenders

Katie Baby, by Curlin

Last 3 Beyers: 81-78-72

◗ In her two wins, she’s been able to dictate the pace by shaking clear of the field early on, but she may have other speed to contend with in this spot.

◗ In her career debut, she was pinched back at the start and was able to rally to finish second, beaten a head.

Summer Sunday, by Silent Name

Last 3 Beyers: 87-58-66

◗ Summer Sunday also is in search of her first graded stakes victory and comes into the race off of a 2 1/4-length victory in the Ballade Stakes for Ontario-sired fillies and mares on May 11.

◗ She’s won all five of her starts on Woodbine’s Tapeta surface.

Silent Sonet, by Silent Name

Last 3 Beyers: 81-80-74

◗ She won the Grade 3 Ontario Fashion Stakes and finished second in the Grade 2 Bessarabian Stakes to close her 2018 Woodbine campaign. In her return to Woodbine on May 11, she ran second to Summer Sunday in the Ballade Stakes over six furlongs.

Sly Beauty, by Into Mischief

Last 3 Beyers: 79-78-80

◗ She ran second in the Grade 3 Whimsical Stakes two starts back and followed up that effort with a win in allowance company on May 25.

◗ She’s a stakes winner on Tapeta, having captured the Star Shoot Stakes as a 3-year-old last season.