Pierce filly back in gate off nice score

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Following an eye-catching maiden victory, Silver Charades shows up at the first allowance level in Friday's Woodbine feature at 1 1/8 miles on the grass.

A field of eight was drawn for $69,100 race, including several other nicely bred fillies, notably See the Wind, Sheho, and Skippingall Theway.

Silver Charades, trained by Malcolm Pierce for Live Oak Plantation, was void of speed when she debuted in a Jan. 16 maiden special weight race at Fair Grounds. She mounted a pretty good stretch rally from the back of the pack and finished a commendable fourth behind next-out allowance winner Thunderdoll.

Silver Charades resurfaced at Woodbine May 21, in another one-mile maiden special on the grass. After being blocked at the top of the stretch while tracking a slow pace, she kicked in strongly along the inside and won going away in a time of 1:35.40, which translated into a Beyer Speed Figure of 87.

Silver Charades drilled five-eighths twice over the turf training course in the interim, and should not mind going another furlong on Friday. Apprentice Corey Fraser, who led the rider standings when the week began, retains the mount.

See the Wind, a Sam-Son Farm homebred trained by Mark Frostad, figures to lead the way under Todd Kabel.

See the Wind did okay over the Fair Grounds turf in her debut March 20, ending up third after setting a lively pace. She was subsequently defeated by double-digit margins in her next two outings, both on the main track at Keeneland.

After acting fractious at the gate, See the Wind led throughout a one-mile maiden special here May 21, winning by 3 1/2 lengths while displaying a fluid, daisy-clipping stride.

See the Wind, a daughter of Sky Classic, is a half-sister to Grade 3 Connaught Cup Stakes winner Fly Smartly and stakes-placed Longship.

Sheho, by former leading sire Deputy Minister, is trying the grass for the first time. Her dam earned $44,450 over the surface.

Sheho won her debut at seven furlongs here in November, and was third in each of her two subsequent starts in allowance company. Following a layoff here May 29, she dueled three wide on the lead over a speed-favoring track before weakening in the final three-sixteenths.

Skippingall Theway has run effectively at six furlongs in both of her starts. She graduated first time out on the main track, then finished a half-length back in second in a turf allowance.