Looking fit, Shakopee Town tries Tapeta in Whimsical

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Kevin Attard and owners Al and Bill Ulwelling won the final stakes of the 2018 Woodbine meet, the Grade 3 Valedictory, with Pumpkin Rumble. They’re hoping to pick up right where they left off when they send out Shakopee Town in Saturday’s opening-day feature, the Grade 3, $125,000 Whimsical Stakes for fillies and mares going six furlongs on the Tapeta.

A 4-year-old, Shakopee Town has made all 10 of her starts on dirt and for trainer Gary Scherer. Her lone stakes score came in the $50,000 Goldfinch at Prairie Meadows last April, after which she was competitive in several stakes for Louisiana-breds.

Shakopee Town was shipped here after checking in second in a second-level optional claimer in the slop at Fair Grounds on March 16. She worked three-eighths here in 36.20 seconds on April 7 and had another quick breeze on the Tapeta last Saturday, a half-mile in 46.60, the fastest of 100 drills at the distance that morning.

“She’s a big, strong, good-looking filly,” said Attard. “She’s trained really well up here. She breezed a little quicker than I would have liked to see her go last week, but she did it very easily and galloped out well. She’s taken to the Tapeta nicely. She hasn’t missed a beat. She’s going into the race in good order. I’m exited to see her run Saturday.”

A field of six was drawn for the six-furlong Whimsical, the eighth on a 10-race card.

KEY CONTENDERS

Shakopee Town, by Jersey Town
Last 3 Beyers: 77-74-70

◗ The homebred will be ridden by Alan Garcia, who captured the 2015 Whimsical on Unspurned.

Alnilah, by Smart Strike
Last 3 Beyers: 74-80-75

◗ She cleared the first two allowance conditions last fall before ending up ninth in the Grade 2 Bessarabian Stakes here, then got the winter off. She breezed a half-mile in a bullet 46 here last Sunday, her only local work this spring.

“She was in Florida with Slade and Kelly Callaghan over the winter,” said trainer Danny O’Callaghan. “They did a super job with her. She had a great work last weekend.”

◗ Her dam, 2009 Canadian champion female sprinter Tribal Belle, lost the 2010 Whimsical by a nose to Proud Heiress.

Sly Beauty, by Into Mischief
Last 3 Beyers: 80-63-81

◗ Last year’s Star Shoot Stakes winner, she is coming off a troubled third in a five-furlong optional claimer on grass at Gulfstream, her first start in about nine months. Trainer Mark Casse is taking the blinkers off.

Zestina, by Silent Name
Last 3 Beyers: 72-76-71

The versatile sprinter-miler has been idle since finishing third Nov. 10 in the restricted La Prevoyante Stakes here. She wintered at Gulfstream with trainer Sid Attard.