Seaway could set up nicely for Reagan's Flame
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Saratoga-based Reagan’s Flame goes for her second stakes victory at the Woodbine meet in Saturday’s Grade 3, $175,000 Seaway for fillies and mares.
Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., Reagan’s Flame has evolved into an effective closing sprinter on Tapeta. In her first start for Joseph, she came on strongly from fourth to land her local debut in the Grade 3 Whimsical May 2, earning a career high 95 Beyer Speed Figure in the six-furlong event.
Reagan’s Flame never challenged when fifth in the Grade 3 Royal North going 7 1/2 furlongs on the inner turf June 27. Most recently, in the Grade 3 Hendrie over 6 1/2 furlongs on a Tapeta surface with a live rail, the 5-year-old raced far back in the two-path early before rallying outside for third.
Reagan’s Flame has a second from two starts over the seven-furlong distance of the Seaway. Both of those races were on the dirt at Churchill in 2024. She could excel over that distance on Tapeta with Edgard Zayas gaining the mount.
Trainer Mark Casse entered Creed’s Gold, Bessie Abott, and Elysian Field in the eight-horse field.
Creed’s Gold should go favored off her recent stalking score in the Hendrie, for which she got a big 97 Beyer. She won last year’s Hendrie in front-running style and her tactical speed is one of her most effective weapons.
Sahin Civaci has the call on Creed’s Gold, a 5-year-old by Jimmy Creed who only lost once in four synthetic track excursions.
Bessie Abott won back-to-back seven-furlong allowances here in the fall on the Tapeta before getting the winter off. She’s started twice on the inner turf this summer, finishing third in the Grade 3 Royal North and fourth in the Grade 2 Nassau.
Elysian Field, who captured last year’s Seaway, was a belated fourth in both of her races this year after returning from a sabbatical. The 6-year-old has an impressive résumé that includes victories in the 2023 Woodbine Oaks and the Grade 3 Maple Leaf in 2024.
Austere ships in off a victory in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance over the Tapeta at Presque Isle Downs. Her lone stakes score for trainer Brendan Walsh came in the 2023 Juvenile Fillies over the undulating turf at Kentucky Downs.
The Rachel Halden-trained Uphill Dance could rally for a share. She was a wide fourth in the Grade 3 Bessarabian in November and is coming off an even fourth in the July 25 Hendrie.
Quadruple was supplemented by trainer Josie Carroll, who won last Saturday’s King’s Plate with Luster. Quadruple set a rapid pace before fading to sixth most recently in the Nassau. The daughter of the legendary Frankel closed for third in the Whimsical in her first start on this side of the pond.
Scat Girl has struggled while routing since winning a seven-furlong conditioned allowance in her May 17 season opener.
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