Recovered from rough season opener, Red Cabernet goes for Eternal Search hat trick

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Red Cabernet will try to win the $100,000 Eternal Search Stakes for the third year in a row on Saturday at Woodbine.

When she was 4 in 2018, Red Cabernet notched her first stakes in the Victoriana, which was renamed the Eternal Search in 2019. The 1 1/16-mile event was switched from the main turf to the inner course last year, and Red Cabernet came from fourth to prevail by a neck over She’s the Berries. Two weeks later on Aug. 28, she showed off her versatility when capturing the restricted Algoma Stakes on the Tapeta.

Red Cabernet subsequently lost the Classy ’n Smart Stakes by a nose to She’s the Berries, and then finished a close fifth against Ontario-sired males in the Bunty Lawless Stakes. A troubled start and a wide trip led to her downfall in the Grade 2 Bessarabian on Nov. 24.

After getting the winter off, Red Cabernet was seventh in her June 6 season debut, an open allowance that came up tough. Victorious Another Time came back to just miss in the Grade 2 Nassau, and runner-up Souper Escape subsequently won two graded stakes on the Tapeta. Trainer Ian Black said Red Cabernet got cut up in the race.

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“She didn’t have a very good trip,” Black said. “She got struck into behind that day on the far turn for a few stitches. It took her a while to bounce back from that. I gave her a little break. She’s come back fine. I probably would have liked another work in her, but this is one of the few opportunities for her.”

Red Cabernet has worked four times since late July, including a half-mile breeze in 48.80 seconds last Saturday. Emma-Jayne Wilson, who was aboard for both of her triumphs in this event, will ride her again for owner Piano Bar Racing.

Bramble Queen is the lone shipper in the nine-horse field of Ontario-sired females.

Based at Monmouth Park with trainer Mike Dini, Bramble Queen is coming off a distant fourth behind 2019 Canadian Horse of the Year Starship Jubilee in the Grade 2 Ballston Spa at Saratoga. She won her two previous starts in optional-claiming company at Delaware and Tampa.

Court Return broke the 1 1/16-mile inner course record when graduating in a romp in her July 2 season opener. She was scratched from a subsequent Ontario-sired allowance that was taken off the grass.

Court Return is bred to be a late bloomer. By Court Vision, the 4-year-old is a half-sister to the Grade 1-winning grass runners Johnny Bear and Channel Maker.

Royal Wedding, another daughter of Woodbine Mile victor Court Vision, is exiting a good second in a second-level optional claimer on the inner turf.