Shadowless doing nicely in new role
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Horses who were once on the Queen's Plate trail have rarely evolved into top-notch sprinters. Many simply fall by the wayside from the rigors of the journey toward that 1 1/4-mile race for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds.
Shadowless is the exception to the rule. He got dusted in last year's Plate, but by year's end he had established himself as one of Woodbine's leading sprinters. He is among a field of seven in Sunday's featured $91,900 allowance, a 5 1/2-furlong dash that serves as a prep for the April 25 Jacques Cartier Stakes.
Shadowless won a pair of allowances on turf in September before ending up second in the seven-furlong Mt. Sassafras Stakes on the Polytrack. He has been idle since posting a 16-1 upset in the Grade 3 Kennedy Road Stakes over six furlongs here Nov. 22.
"I was ecstatic with the way that he came back after not getting the two turns," said trainer David Bell.
Shadowless has been breezing up a storm this spring, including a bullet five-furlong drill in 59 seconds on March 24.
Rouse the Cat, based at Charles Town with trainer Ollie Figgins, finished a close second in both of his local outings last year, including in the Kennedy Road. He lost the Grade 2 Nearctic Stakes by a nose on the grass in October. Rouse the Cat was last seen running third in the Feb. 7 Colonel Power Stakes on the Fair Grounds grass.
Legal Move, the 5 1/2-furlong Polytrack record-holder at Woodbine, finished fifth after a wide trip in the Kennedy Road in his first start after being sold to owner Bruno Schickedanz. He failed to make an impact in his lone winter appearance, the Jan. 10 Pelican Stakes at Tampa.
Disfunction hasn't started since his commendable fourth-place finish in the Grade 3 Phoenix Stakes at Keeneland in October, but has been working at Palm Meadows for trainer Julia Carey. He captured the Grade 3 Vigil Stakes here last May.
The speedy 4-year-old Stuck in Traffic, sidelined since July, will likely lead the way in his first attempt against older opposition.