Regalclass tough filly to gauge

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Regalclass is definitely the class of Wednesday's allowance feature for fillies and mares at Woodbine. The question handicappers must ponder, however, is whether she will fire anything close to her best shot in the 6 1/2-furlong dash.

Regalclass, a 4-year-old by Regal Classic, hit the front in the final furlong in the 2000 Lady Angela Stakes, but was overhauled in deep stretch and finished a neck back of outsider Comtesse Cristol. She subsequently ran second in a 1 1/16-mile allowance, but was beaten 14 lengths in each of her next two outings, which included the Canadian Oaks.

Regalclass checked in second to a sharp Press Exclusive when she returned from an eight-month sabbatical in a 5 1/2-furlong allowance April 15. She ran flat in both of her next starts, but was a respectable third going three-quarters most recently June 17.

Trainer Mike DePaulo believes Regalclass had a valid excuse in her penultimate outing.

"It was unfortunate that she drew the inside post a couple starts ago," DePaulo said. "I don't think she liked being down on the inside."

DePaulo believes Regalclass is well suited to the conditions of Wednesday's race, a first-level allowance.

"Seven-eighths is probably her best distance," he said. "She was second in the Lady Angela at that distance. This one's at 6 1/2 furlongs, and she's had some time between races. I think she'll be real competitive. We worked her on the grass the other day, and she went just okay, so we decided to pass up a grass race with her."

Regular rider Steven Bahen has the call on Regalclass, a homebred owned by John Terdik.

Rounding out the field for Wednesday's headliner will be No Cheating with Slade Callaghan aboard; Chanceisalady, Gary Boulanger; Amy's Believer, James McKnight; Crown's Shadow, Daniel David; and Dancing Snowflake, Patrick Husbands.

Dancing Snowflake beat Regalclass when she finished second to favored Wilderness Storm on June 17, and should be a force. She pressed the pace in the two-path over an outside-biased track in a 1 1/16-mile allowance July 1, but weakened in the drive after assuming command on the far turn and ended up fourth.

Turning back to a sprint should agree with Dancing Snowflake, who is owned and trained by Audre Cappuccitti.

Chanceisalady could be the up-and-comer in the group. She was claimed for $25,000 July 4 by trainer Scott Fairlie, who sent her out to blow away $32,000 conditioned claimers three weeks ago.