Retraceable better than her Beyer Figure indicates

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Retraceable, one of Woodbine's leading 2-year-old fillies, goes for her second stakes win in a row Sunday in the $150,000 Ontario Lassie, a 1 1/16-mile race for Ontario-breds.

Retraceable won her debut convincingly with an 80 Beyer Speed Figure in July for trainer Mark Casse. She chased home the gifted Van Lear Rose in each of her next two outings in stakes, ending up second in the restricted Muskoka and fourth in the Grade 3 Mazarine.

In the Muskoka, Casse said, "she got checked repeatedly. She came back and lost a shoe in the Mazarine."

Casse said things went smoother for Retraceable most recently in the $250,800 Princess Elizabeth Stakes for Ontario-breds. She rallied to win the 1 1/16-mile race by daylight under Patrick Husbands, and was awarded a 74 Beyer.

"There was a decent enough pace," said Casse. "She'll do whatever you want her to do, and Patrick got her to settle. Her Beyer was average, but I'm sure her Ragozin number will be much better, because she got carried eight wide turning for home. She ran a long way."

Retraceable has breezed five-eighths twice since the Princess Elizabeth.

"She's doing extremely well," said Casse.

Milwaukee Appeal wound up second in the Nov. 1 Princess Elizabeth after a three-wide stalking trip under Na Somsanith. Trainer Scott Fairlie was pleased with the effort she put forth that day.

"For her first time going two turns, she ran very well," said Fairlie. "I think that she's progressed from that race. She's had a couple of easy works, and seems to be doing great."

Milwaukee Appeal's only poor performance came over soft ground in the Grade 3 Natalma Stakes in September.

"She didn't handle the soft turf," Fairlie recalled. "It's definitely a toss-out race."

Lunar Linda rallied for second in the Nov. 12 South Ocean, a 1 1/16-mile stakes for Ontario-sired fillies. She won her maiden over a mile and 70 yards in October.

Stranger Things was in good form prior to her fade job in the South Ocean, in which she got cooked in a speed duel with Dash It Dreamer.

"I wasn't happy with her last race," said Richards. "The rail wasn't very good, speed wasn't holding, and we went very fast on the rail."

D' Country beat Ontario-sired maidens over

6 1/2 furlongs two weeks ago, and will likely show speed.