No excuse for Sweet Breanna

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Sweet Breanna has had a frustrating time trying to find the winner's circle, but she may have found a field she can handle in Friday's Woodbine headliner.

Sweet Breanna's lone victory this year came in a first-level allowance at 1 1/16 miles in May, when she defeated Kimchi by 5 1/4 lengths. Kimchi turned the tables on her in the June 11 Woodbine Oaks, however, winning by 1 3/4 lengths in an upset.

Sweet Breanna finished second to Kimchi again in the July 2 Bison City Stakes at Fort Erie. She struggled in a subsequent turf experiment in the Wonder Where Stakes, finishing sixth in her only unplaced effort this year.

Sweet Breanna met older opponents Sept. 4 in the restricted Algoma Stakes and finished second to Financingavailable, one of the best older females in Canada. She was made the favorite against 3-year-old fillies in the Sept. 23 La Lorgnette Stakes, but finished third behind Vestrey Lady and Gold Fish.

Sweet Breanna was favored again most recently in a $62,500 optional claimer at 1 1/16 miles on Oct. 21. Howboutrightnow set a slow pace before drawing off in the stretch to win by six lengths over Sweet Breanna, who rallied four wide for second.

Sweet Breanna is back in a $62,500 optional claimer Friday and will likely be favored again, with Emma Wilson riding for trainer Steve Attard.

Other possibilities in the race, at 1 1/16 miles, include Archie's Gal, Tale of the Devil, and The Queen's Stamp.

Archie's Gal has had a lucrative campaign for trainer Mike DePaulo, posting a record of 2-3-1 in 6 starts, for earnings of $141,005.

Archie's Gal captured a seven-furlong Ontario-sired allowance by 8 1/4 lengths in May and won an open allowance going 1 1/16 miles on the inner track in July. She was second to Financingavailable in the restricted Classy 'N Smart Stakes Oct. 9 and was recently third behind Sweet Breanna in the Oct. 21 optional claimer after pressing the pace.

Tale of the Devil has been absent since taking a first-level allowance on the grass Sept. 1, a race that has produced two next-out winners, including Archer's Dreamer. Tale of the Devil makes her first start on the all-weather surface, on which she has worked several times.

The Queen's Stamp, a full sister to Grade 2 stakes winner Prized Stamp, is a turf specialist who has handled the Polytrack adequately. She finished just behind Sweet Breanna and Archie's Gal in the Oct. 21 optional claimer.