Season Ticket back on grass in Ontario Damsel

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Season Ticket will go back to the grass off a surging third in the Woodbine Oaks when she runs Sunday in the $150,000 Ontario Damsel Stakes for Ontario-bred 3-year-old fillies.

Season Ticket made her first four starts on grass at three different tracks in the United States before running fourth on Polytrack in the Grade 3 Selene Stakes here May 24. She then rallied from ninth in the Woodbine Oaks to finish third behind Academic, who lowered the nine-furlong Polytrack record, and was just a nose behind the heavily favored London Tower.

Trainer Mark Casse said Season Ticket is at least as good on grass as she is on Polytrack.

“She may be better if you look at her form,” Casse said. “She ran second in an allowance race at Keeneland on the turf, and she’s by Lemon Drop Kid.”

Six others were entered in the one-mile Ontario Damsel, including Dixie Twist, who was supplemented by Casse for $3,000.

KEY CONTENDERS

Season Ticket (Last 3 Beyers: 81-73-75)

She has worked five furlongs twice since the Oaks, including in 1:01.40 last Saturday.

Patrick Husbands will ride her again for Woodford Racing.

Ready for Romance (Last 2 Beyers: 74-58)

The unbeaten Sam-Son Farm homebred is trying grass for the first time. She has worked extensively over the turf training course and is by the superb turf sire More Than Ready.

Dixie Twist (Last 3 Beyers: 58-61-19)

She won her maiden in last year’s Ontario Debutante Stakes before finishing a distant fourth in her lone turf start in the Grade 2 Natalma. She was fifth in both of her outings this year.

“Dixie Twist has struggled this year, but her last breeze was really good,” Casse said. “I thought it made sense to at least give her another try on the turf. I’d rather run in a stakes against 3-year-old fillies than against older fillies in a one-other-than.”

February Rose (Last 3 Beyers: 76-22-61)

She graduated at first asking over yielding ground in October and was a closing third in her season opener June 14 in the 6 1/2-furlong Alywow Stakes.

Internal Bourbon (Last 3 Beyers: 65-73-75)

Her 2-year-old turf races weren’t bad, and she was in solid form prior to missing the board for the first time in the June 14 Oaks.

Reserved (Last 3 Beyers: 66-74-24)

The daughter of Kitten’s Joy has run hot and cold. She earned her diploma on grass the second time out before finishing a dull fifth in the Natalma.