Little Hussy big attraction in Natalma

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Little Hussy, a shockingly easy winner of both her races, will be strongly backed in Sunday's $177,300 Natalma Stakes at Woodbine.

The Grade 3 race for 2-year-old fillies has drawn a diverse field of 14 who will go a mile on the grass.

Trainer Mark Casse entered four runners, including Little Hussy, who won her maiden going six furlongs on the main track at Calder in July.

Little Hussy then took the allowance prep for the Natalma by four lengths under a hand ride by jockey Patrick Husbands. She got an 81 Beyer Speed Figure for running seven furlongs in 1:21.80 seconds over a very firm course.

"I thought her first race at Calder was pretty impressive," Casse said. "She trained really well into [the prep.] The first time Patrick worked her was on the grass, and he said after the work that she's the Natalma winner. He was impressed with her."

After the prep, Little Hussy was sold by Pennston Farm to John Oxley, who owned 2001 Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos and 1995 Canadian Oaks winner Gal in a Ruckus. John Ward will become her trainer after the Natalma.

Higher World, also trained by Casse, won her maiden second time out on the main track by nearly nine lengths.

"I really think she's a nice filly," Casse said. "Patrick was pleased with how she worked on the grass the other day. I'm not 100 percent sure that she's going to run. I'm aiming her more for the Mazarine Stakes."

Casse also entered Shout to the North, who graduated in the slop and was second when she debuted on the grass. "She ran real green on the turf," Casse said.

Rounding out the Casse foursome is Extra Bases, who will be trying the turf for the first time. She was a fast-closing second last time, in the Ontario Debutante Stakes.

Fearless Flyer was flown in from Europe for the Natalma, after which she will be sent to California. Trained by Tommy Stack, she won one of four starts in her native Ireland.

Feistee Deer won her debut in a seven-furlong maiden special on the grass by three-quarters of a length over another Natalma entrant, Elle Runaway.

Accretion and Paddy's Daisy are both coming off a maiden triumph on the grass in New York.

Accretion won her only race, going three-quarters at Belmont, and Paddy's Daisy graduated around two turns at Saratoga.