Miss Ella tries synthetic surface in Hendrie Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Miss Ella will seek her third win in her last five starts in Sunday’s Grade 3, $125,000 Hendrie Stakes for older fillies and mares over 6 1/2 furlongs on Tapeta.

The Graham Motion trainee ships up to Woodbine off a runner-up finish in her seasonal debut in the License Fee Stakes over six furlongs on the inner turf course at Belmont Park on April 30. Motion said he had considered running Miss Ella back in the Grade 3, $250,000 Intercontinental Stakes next Thursday at Belmont Park, a race she ran third in last season, but thought the Hendrie was a better fit.

“It just fit into her schedule very well,” he said. “We considered running her at Belmont in the seven-furlong race, but she hasn’t run her best races at Belmont.”

Motion said the Hendrie will help the connections determine if they want to target the Grade 2 Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes in September.

“By running her on the Tapeta, we get to find out how she handles it because there’s a big race at Presque Isle at the end of the year,” he said. “That also went into the thought process.”

:: Get PPs for Sunday's card at Woodbine

Key Contenders

Miss Ella, by Exchange Rate
Last 3 Beyers: 86-94-93

◗ Although Miss Ella has never raced on synthetic, she has trained regularly over synthetic surfaces at the Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland.

“She’s worked very well [on the Tapeta at Fair Hill], but I find most of them do,” Motion said. “She’s always worked on it and always handled it.”

River Maid, by Where’s the Ring
Last 3 Beyers: 72-86-86

◗ The 2016 Canadian champion female sprinter never threatened against restricted company in the six-furlong Ballade Stakes and could be eligible for a bounce back while getting some added ground to work with.

◗ Jockey Gary Boulanger was aboard for River Maid’s victories in the Ballade Stakes and Grade 2 Bessarabian Stakes last season and takes over for Patrick Husbands, who will ride Minks Aprise.

Jennifer Lynnette, by Elusive Quality
Last 3 Beyers: 80-81-73

◗ She’s won back-to-back allowances to begin her 2017 campaign and will now face graded-stakes company for the first time.

◗ Her outside draw should allow her to get into a good position for jockey Rafael Hernandez, who’s won at a 30 percent clip with trainer Mark Casse over 53 starts since 2015.

Minks Aprise, by Northern Afleet
Last 3 Beyers: 85-86-90

◗ She’ll be making her first start of the year in the Hendrie and is now under the care of trainer Roger Attfield.

◗ Her most recent start came in last season’s Grade 2 Bessarabian Stakes over seven furlongs on Tapeta. She encountered traffic trouble early in that race but rallied well once she found racing room and just missed in a blanket finish.

Code Warrior, by Society’s Chairman
Last 3 Beyers: 81-89-88

◗ She held a brief lead in the Ballade Stakes in her most recent start May 14 before settling for third.

◗ She’s placed in all four of her starts on synthetic this season, with an 89 Beyer Speed Figure in the Camilla Urso Stakes over six furlongs at Golden Gate on March 18.