Miss Juicey exits a key stakes race
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Miss Juicey, the fourth-place finisher in last year's surprisingly tough Victorian Queen Stakes, is arguably the one to fear most in Friday's Woodbine feature, a five-furlong allowance for Ontario-sired fillies and mares.
Miss Juicey made quite a splash when she debuted in a six-furlong sprint for Ontario-sired maidens Sept. 8. Sent off at 5-1, she saved ground until the stretch, and then came wide to win by a nose in a mediocre clocking.
Miss Juicey returned Oct. 3 in the Victorian Queen, another six-furlong sprint for Ontario-sired runners. She pressed a lively pace before weakening in the stretch, but was only beaten two lengths for second while leaving stakes winners Executrix and Simple Sister in her wake.
Authenicat, the runaway winner of the Victorian Queen, subsequently ran second to Pure Clan in the Grade 3 Pocahontas Stakes at Churchill. The third-place finisher, Lady d'Wildcat, returned to capture a first-level allowance.
Miss Juicey has posted several fast works this spring for successful layoff trainer Bob Tiller.
Jovial Jill was visually impressive when she won her career debut by four lengths in a 5 1/2-furlong sprint Dec. 6. She only received a 62 Beyer Speed Figure, but she appears to have enough potential to break through at this level soon.
Emma Wilson replaces the suspended Robert Landry on Jovial Jill.
Sneak Dee is already making her second appearance at the meeting. She wound up fourth after breaking slowly and running wide in a $40,000 conditioned claimer last Sunday.
Natural Mystic graduated second time out last fall, in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden sprint. She then finished sixth in a second-level allowance and drops into entry-level conditions on Friday.
La Gran Emma has not run well in four starts at five furlongs. She has done better in routes on the Polytrack, and is seemingly prepping for a two-turn race.
El Lace has been idle since finishing a front-running fourth in a six-furlong allowance last August. Previously, she defeated Ontario-sired maidens in her first start off the $20,000 claim by trainer Red Johnson.