Moonlit Promise tries two turns in La Lorgnette

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Moonlit Promise will experiment around two turns against Woodbine Oaks winner Neshama in Saturday’s $125,000 La Lorgnette Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

Trained by Josie Carroll, Moonlit Promise has two wins and two seconds since beginning her career in May. After ending up second the first time out in a seven-furlong maiden special weight race, she graduated by four lengths over six furlongs in June.

Off a fast allowance score going seven furlongs July 8, Moonlit Promise was bet down to favoritism a month later in the Duchess Stakes, but things did not go well for her in that seven-furlong event. After a troubled start, she lacked room on the outside on the turn and through most of the stretch before getting up late for second behind longshot Tiz Imaginary, who had clear sailing near the inside.

Gary Boulanger inherits the mount from a suspended Luis Contreras on the beautifully bred Moonlit Promise.

Neshama enjoyed a perfect stalking trip before barely holding off the troubled favorite, Gamble’s Ghost, in the nine-furlong Woodbine Oaks in June. She bypassed the Queen’s Plate to contest the second leg of the Canadian Triple Tiara, the Bison City Stakes, in which she was a prominent third behind Caren, who set dawdling fractions in the 1 1/16-mile route.

Most recently Aug. 7, Neshama failed to stay the 10 furlongs when fifth in her first grass outing in the Wonder Where Stakes. She has since worked quickly on Tapeta.

The 1 1/16-mile La Lorgnette, which lured just three others, goes as race 8 on a 10-race card.

La Lorgnette, Race 8

KEY CONTENDERS

Moonlit Promise, by Malibu Moon
Last 3 Beyers: 79-85-77

◗ Her pedigree leans much more toward routing than sprinting. The average win distance of Malibu Moon’s progeny is 7.1 furlongs. Her dam, Smart Surprise, was a versatile stakes winner, and she hails from the family of classic winner A.P. Indy and the Grade 1-winning turf miler Court Vision.

Neshama, by Sligo Bay
Last 3 Beyers: 71-83-83

◗ Following Neshama’s dramatic Oaks victory, trainer Catherine Day Phillips credited assistant Candace Dixon with the elegant filly’s transition into one of the best in her division.

“She’s been riding her since she came back from maternity last fall and has taught her to relax and find her stride,” Day Phillips said. “She’s done a lot of work with her and really believed in the horse and has been a big part of her development.”