Owlette makes another money run in Victorian Queen

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Shady Well Stakes winner Owlette drops in class to meet Ontario-sired 2-year-old fillies in Saturday’s $100,000 Victorian Queen Stakes at Woodbine.

Trained by Wesley Ward, Owlette ran second to her highly regarded stablemate Nayibeth when debuting at the Keeneland spring meet. She subsequently won her maiden easily in open company over a modest group here May 3.

After shipping back to her Keeneland base, Owlette returned to Woodbine for the $125,000 Shady Well for Ontario-bred fillies on July 27. With Take Charge Eh pressing her throughout, she led all the way in the 5 1/2-furlong Tapeta sprint, winning by a half-length.

Jockey Patrick Husbands said Owlette ran a bit greenly in the Shady Well.

“Every time I got a length in front, she put her ears up and quit running,” Husbands said. “It was good that [Take Charge Eh] pushed me along, and she got the job done.”

Ward said Owlette has trained forwardly since the Shady Well.

“She came right back down to Keeneland and had a series of works,” Ward said. “We’re ready to go. She’s looks great.”

A field of nine was drawn for the six-furlong Victorian Queen, while nine fillies and mares were entered later on the 11-race card in the $100,000 Sweet Briar Too.

KEY CONTENDERS

Owlette, by Frac Daddy

Beyers: 76-76-NA

◗ Expect her to go directly to the lead again, with the maiden claimer Victorian Moon taking up the chase from the outset.

Wake Up Maggie, by Silent Name

Beyers: 70-60-64

◗ After graduating going five-eighths second time out, she wound up fourth in the Shady Well after stumbling at the break.

West Paw, by Frac Daddy

Beyers: 58-73

◗ She came from third to land her debut in open company here May 19. Following a two-month break, she was a non-threatening fifth after getting away slowly in the Shady Well.

◗ Trainer Mark Casse won the 2016 Victorian Queen with Conquest Vivi.

She’s a Dream, by Silent Name

Beyers: 66-73

◗ After beating Ontario-sired $40,000 maidens in her opening race Aug. 10, she was a distant third as the favorite in the rapidly run Muskoka Stakes.

Sweet Briar Too

Trainer Catherine Day Phillips sends out Katie Baby and Killag Katie in the Sweet Briar Too, a 6 1/2-furlong Tapeta sprint.

Since romping in her season opener in a seven-furlong allowance, Katie Baby has hit the board in three consecutive Grade 3 stakes. She rallied for second in both the Hendrie and Ontario Matron and is coming off a flat third in the Seaway.

Killag Katie earned a career-high 86 Beyer when taking a second-level optional claimer here Aug. 17.

The speedy Sister Peacock could go favored off her narrow loss in a turf stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Saratoga.