Lorena back with restricted company in Zadracarta

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Lorena drops from graded stakes company to tackle Ontario-breds on Sunday at Woodbine in the $100,000 Zadracarta Stakes, which attracted a field of 12 fillies and mares.

Lorena shortens up to five-eighths on the tight inner course in the Zadracarta, which is named after the crack Canadian sprinter from the late 1980s.

“I’ve never run her on the inner turf, but she does have the one start on the turf,” trainer Stuart Simon said. “I always thought she would like the turf, and she did show that. In a perfect world, I’d like to run her further, but it’s a restricted stakes and you feel like you have to take a shot.”

Lorena won the seven-furlong Thunder Bay on the main course among her four stakes victories in 2021. This year, she has finished sixth in the Grade 3 Whimsical, second in the Ballade Stakes for Ontario-sired runners, and is exiting a troubled seventh in the Grade 3 Hendrie.

Simon felt that Lorena didn’t fire her best shot on a humid day in the 6 1/2-furlong Hendrie, which was won by the upstart Hazelbrook.

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“She doesn’t seem to do as well in the really hot weather,” Simon said. “She had a tough trip the last time. I’m not saying she was going to win, but she deserved to be third or fourth in that race.”

The unbeaten Stormy Silence is making her stakes debut for trainer Shelley Fitzgerald, who co-bred and co-owns the 4-year-old with Martin Wickins.

Stormy Silence used her speed to land a five-furlong maiden special on the inner turf at 25-1 in June. She doubled up against nonwinners-of-two company going three-quarters on the main course on July 14.

“We always really liked her,” Fitzgerald said. “We knew she was good, and we knew she was fast. I hadn’t really been aiming for [the first] race, but she was ready. She just handled it like it was a morning gallop. She really impressed us.

“The second time, it’s a different turf course, so you don’t know how they are going to handle that. But she’s handled everything. She acts very professional.”

Fitzgerald said another race in August failed to fill for Stormy Silence, and the Zadracarta was the next logical spot for the daughter of Silent Name.

“We’re going to give it a shot and see what happens,” Fitzgerald said. “She’s already proven herself at five-eighths on the inner.”

Among the other contenders are Amalfi Sky and Hell N Wild.

Amalfi Sky and Hell N Wild ran one-two in a conditioned allowance/optional claimer over six furlongs on the main turf July 16. Both have experience on the inner layout.

Spanish Ballerina and Marie MacKay could link up on the lead.

Spanish Ballerina was a front-running second in last year’s Zadracarta and has been freshened leading up to this engagement.

Marie MacKay faded to fifth in her only start this year in the open Alywow Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.