Piper's Legacy makes stakes debut in Eternal Search

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Woodbine has branded Wednesday night’s card as Ladies Night, with all eight races on the program for fillies and mares. The feature race of the night is the $100,000 Eternal Search Stakes, which will see a field of eight Ontario-sired fillies and mares travel 1 1/16 miles under the lights on the inner turf course.

Piper’s Legacy has won both of her starts to start the year, both on grass against Ontario-sired allowance competition, and will now step up to face stakes company for the first time in the Eternal Search.

“She’s always been a filly who has shown some talent,” trainer Donald MacRae said. “We have to space out her races, but this is one time we can wheel her back in a bit quicker fashion than we’re usually used to. She’s doing well. I was really pleased with her last race, so I thought we’d give her a shot.”

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Piper’s Legacy last raced two weeks back on July 31, when she was up close to the pace early and hung on for a head victory over Notice Me at the 1 1/16-mile distance of the Eternal Search. Piper’s Legacy earned a 72 Beyer Speed Figure in her first start off the layoff on June 7.

Key Contenders

Piper’s Legacy, by Silent Name

Last 3 Beyers: 69-72-54

◗ She figures to be among the early pacesetters in this event under jockey Jerome Lermyte, who has been aboard for both of her wins this season.

Zestina, by Silent Name

Last 3 Beyers: 80-69-78

◗ She won a pair of restricted turf stakes last season, and recorded a career-high 80 Beyer Speed Figure in her return to grass in her most recent start in the Zadracarta Stakes on June 29. That race followed a pair of sprints on Tapeta to begin her 2019 campaign.

Red Cabernet, by Signature Red

Last 3 Beyers: 79-82-65

◗ She won this event last season when it was named the Victoriana Stakes. Following a seventh-place finish in her seasonal debut in the Ballade Stakes on Tapeta in May, her speed figures have improved since moving over to the grass. She earned an 82 Beyer in the Grade 2 Nassau Stakes on May 26, and a 79 Beyer in the Zadracarta.

She’s the Berries, by Badge of Silver

Last 3 Beyers: 75-85-85

◗ She had a three-race win streak snapped when she finished seventh in the Grade 3 Trillium Stakes on June 16. She’ll race on the turf for just the second time in her career after finishing 10th and earning a 53 Beyer Speed Figure in a 6 1/2-furlong sprint on the grass last July.

Miss Sea, by Marchfield

Last 3 Beyers: 82-79-74

◗ She rallied to finish second by three-quarters of a length in the Zadracarta Stakes on June 29, her first start of the season and first in a stakes. She has worked three times on the turf training track since that start and would benefit from a quick pace in front of her.