Midnight Shadow goes for title

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Midnight Shadow will try to bolster her case for the Sovereign Award as champion 2-year-old filly in the $150,000 Fanfreluche Stakes for Ontario-breds at Woodbine on Saturday.

Midnight Shadow has won 4 of 6 starts, including three restricted stakes. She validated her authoritative maiden win in June with a game victory in the five-furlong Shady Well Stakes in July, receiving a Beyer Figure in the 80's in both races.

Midnight Shadow's speed figures have declined since then. She got a 70 Beyer for her workmanlike win in the Aug. 5 Nandi Stakes, a five-furlong dash on the inner track. She was a flat third with a 58 Beyer two starts ago in the Muskoka Stakes on the Polytrack, but then rebounded in the six-furlong Victorian Queen Stakes, scoring with a 61 Beyer.

"She's doing good," said trainer Bob Tiller. "Hopefully, she'll behave and run her race. If we could win this one, I think she'd be a cinch to win the Sovereign."

Ray Sabourin retains the mount on Midnight Shadow, a daughter of Trajectory.

The six-furlong Fanfreluche has also lured Simply Stylish, Trivia Game, Saskawea, Grandy's Glory, and Dashingalltheway.

Simply Stylish graduated second time out over a quality field on the grass in July, before finishing far back in a turf allowance. She has been absent since finishing second behind Only If Split in the 6 1/2-furlong Muskoka on Sept. 4.

Trainer Mark Casse withdrew Simply Stylish from last Saturday's 1 1/16-mile Princess Elizabeth Stakes.

"I scratched her out of the Princess Elizabeth because I thought she would have a much better shot in the Fanfreluche," said Casse, who sent out Quiet Action in the Princess Elizabeth, where she finished second. "I think she should be very tough in [the Fanfreluche]. She worked well the other day."

Casse also entered first-time starter Trivia Game, a nicely bred daughter of Smart Strike and 1998 Victorian Queen winner Bold Mist.

Saskawea closed from far back for second in her five-furlong opener. She put it all together in her second outing three weeks ago, capturing a six-furlong maiden special after dueling wide on the lead.

Saskawea possesses the highest last-start Beyer in the Fanfreluche lineup, a 67.

Grandy's Glory was freshened after ending up fourth in the Nandi. She flashed speed before fading to fifth when returning from a two-month layoff in the Victorian Queen.

Dashingalltheway was a late-running third in the Victorian Queen.