Native Legend puts streak on the line

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Native Legend will try to extend her unbeaten streak to three races Sunday at Woodbine in the $125,000 Star Shoot Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

Native Legend overcame a slow start from an inside post to win her five-furlong debut convincingly in November. After spending about half the winter training at Keeneland, she reappeared in a five-furlong allowance here on the second day of the meeting. Sent off as the 2-1 second choice, she rode a speed bias to a three-length triumph, earning an 84 Beyer Speed Figure.

Darwin Banach, who trains Native Legend for owner-breeder Bill Sorokolit Sr., said the Star Shoot has always been on the filly's agenda.

"She was doing very well at Keeneland," Banach said. "It was always our plan to get her to the Star Shoot and get a trip over the track first. Otherwise, we probably would have run her at Keeneland. So far, it's worked out how we wanted it to. She's doing very well."

Native Legend worked a half-mile here on the Polytrack in a bullet 47.80 seconds last Tuesday. "She galloped out [five-eighths] in a minute," Banach said. "We were pretty happy with that. She's got really good natural speed."

Native Legend is a half-sister to stakes winners Classic Stamp and Prized Stamp, who won the Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie Handicap in 2001.

"We're looking forward to a good year with her," Banach said. "If she can stretch out, she could be very handy."

Trainer Nick Gonzalez entered both My List and Stillistillmovin in the six-furlong event.

"My List is going to run for sure," Gonzalez said. "The [Star Shoot] prep didn't go, so we ran 'Still' in a two-other-than last weekend. She was even-money and ran a disappointing fourth. She just didn't run her race, but she took it real well. We might need her to soften up some of the speed in the Star Shoot to make it easier for My List."

My List placed in three stakes as a 2-year-old before she graduated in a seven-furlong maiden special in November. In her first start back from a winter layoff April 1, she closed strongly against a speed bias to finish second to Native Legend.

Also entered in the race is Sanibel, who is making her stakes debut off a six-length victory over $62,500 maidens at Gulfstream. That race has yielded four next-out winners.