'Kraze' figures tough on the turf

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Wonder Where Stakes winner Northern Kraze should be favored in Friday's Woodbine feature, provided that the second-level allowance/optional claimer isn't rained off the grass.

Northern Kraze was in mediocre Polytrack form prior to her maiden-winning performance going a mile on the grass July 1. She's coming off a strong showing on yielding turf in the 1 1/4-mile Wonder Where, tracking front-runner Roses 'n' Wine before overhauling her in deep stretch to prevail with an 87 Beyer Speed Figure.

Going by her fourth-place finish against males in the Oct. 14 Cup and Saucer Stakes, trainer Mark Frostad said it was no surprise that Northern Kraze has evolved into a turf specialist.

"We always knew that she'd be better on turf," Frostad said, "but she was running fairly well on the Poly, so we kept her there. I thought she tipped her hand last year in the Cup and Saucer, when she ran a big race."

Chantal Sutherland retains the mount on Northern Kraze, who was scratched from the Aug. 30 Ontario Colleen Stakes.

After graduating on July 1, Reverently finished far back in the Wonder Where, but the stretch-runner rebounded with an impressive allowance victory over seven furlongs Aug. 16. The 1 1/16-mile distance of Friday's race should be right up her alley.

Red Birkin was stakes placed twice in the United States last year. She is making her third start following a long layoff and was a front-running second in a nine-furlong optional claimer that was taken off the turf last month.

The German-bred Prianca won a listed stakes last year in Italy, where she also finished fourth in a Group 3 event last October. She ran three times in New York this year and had a troubled trip when fourth in two of those optional claimers. She recently switched trainers, going from Angel Penna Jr. to Mac Benson.

The versatile Poetic Fan was recently second to the upwardly mobile Emma Ain't Bluffin, who returned to finish a close third in the restricted Algoma Stakes.

Baroness was third in each of her three most recent outings on two different surfaces, but she is winless during the past year.