Scotty's Model looks to double up in Hendrie Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Ballade Stakes winner Scotty’s Model will look to win her second consecutive start in Sunday’s Grade 3, $125,000 Hendrie Stakes for fillies and mares over 6 1/2 furlongs on Tapeta at Woodbine.

After a narrow loss to Moonlit Promise in the Grade 2 Bessarabian Stakes here on Nov. 26, Scotty’s Model made two starts at Oaklawn Park over the winter, finishing sixth in the American Beauty Stakes and seventh in the Spring Fever Stakes. Trainer Norm McKnight said it was evident that Scotty’s Model didn’t take well to the dirt.

“We could tell she didn’t like the dirt the first time she breezed on it,” he said. “She wanted no part of it. But we had her down there, and the game plan was just to try and keep her up so she’d be ready when we got back here.”

In her first start back at Woodbine, Scotty’s Model finished a half-length behind Let It Ride Mom and Moonlit Promise in the Grade 3 Whimsical Stakes. The 8-year-old mare followed up with her first stakes win in the Ballade against restricted company May 20.

“She seems to have come out of that last race in good shape,” McKnight said. “She breezed back really well. Everything looks positive at the moment. I think she’s probably doing as good as I’ve ever seen her. I hope she’ll show that on Sunday.”

Key Contenders

Scotty’s Model, by Mr. Scotty
Last 3 Beyers: 86-80-77

◗ Scotty’s Model has won three of her last five starts on Woodbine’s Tapeta. In her two defeats, she finished a head and a half-length behind the winner.

◗ Through Thursday, McKnight had a 49 percent strike rate at Woodbine in 2018, with 28 wins from 57 starts. Rafael Hernandez was in the saddle for 17 of those wins, and he is aboard Scotty’s Model on Sunday.

Let It Ride Mom, by Into Mischief
Last 3 Beyers: 85-76-85

◗ She returned from a layoff to get her first graded stakes win in the six-furlong Whimsical on April 28. She’s won her last three starts on Woodbine’s Tapeta and is 4 for 6 at Woodbine overall, with two runner-up finishes.

Moonlit Promise, by Malibu Moon
Last 3 Beyers: 85-71-84

◗ She raced twice over the winter on dirt at Gulfstream Park and returned to Woodbine to finish second in the Whimsical. She won three consecutive starts at Woodbine last season, including the Grade 3 Ontario Fashion and the Bessarabian.

Jennifer Lynnette, by Elusive Quality
Last 3 Beyers: 95-85-89

◗ She finished third behind Code Warrior in last year’s Hendrie Stakes, her most recent start on Tapeta. Her last five starts have come on turf. She won the Grade 3 Royal North Stakes at Woodbine last season and most recently recorded a career-high 95 Beyer Speed Figure when third in the License Fee Stakes at Belmont Park on April 28.