Shawanaga brings win streak to dash

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Shawanaga has a much higher win percentage than the majority of her seven rivals in Thursday's Woodbine headliner and she should be prominent in the 6 1/2-furlong second-level allowance, which has a $62,500-claiming option.

Shawanaga is 7 for 15, which includes 4 wins from just 6 starts this year. She captured her first two appearances at the meet in the spring, against $40,000 and $50,000 claimers on the Polytrack.

After dropping two consecutive starts against $80,000 allowance/optional claimers in June, Shawanaga got the summer off. She showed lots of determination when she came off the sidelines Sept. 19, winning a $50,000 claimer on the grass by a head over the persistent Mimi Cooper.

Last time out, in a seven-furlong optional claimer that was taken off the grass, Shawanaga came four wide from a stalking position to prevail by a neck under regular rider Ray Sabourin.

Nick Gonzalez trains Shawanaga, who competes with a $62,500 claiming tag Thursday.

Value Stream closed strongly on the outside to finish a neck shy of Shawanaga on Oct. 4, which was her second straight runner-up placing at this level. She has competed all over North America, but both of her victories came on the grass at Belmont.

Luis Contreras will ride Value Stream, a daughter of A.P. Indy trained by Hall-of-Famer Neil Drysdale.

Bent Attorney won the Ernie Samuel Memorial Stakes on the turf at Fort Erie in July after ending up second in the six-furlong Zadracarta Stakes here on the grass. She ran a rare clunker two back in the Rainbow Connection Stakes at the Fort and then dead-heated for second behind Grade 3 stakes winner Gemswick Park three weeks ago on the Polytrack.

Bedarra is making her second start off the $62,500 reclaim by trainer Sid Attard, who sent her out to finish seventh in the Oct. 3 Avowal Stakes. She defeated $50,000 opposition under Jim McAleney in August.

The Australian import Miss Razyana figures to set the pace. All four of her victories took place on the grass, and two of those tallies came here at this optional-claiming class. Most recently in the seven-furlong Avowal, she tired badly to finish nearly 20 lengths in arrears after opening up a clear early lead.

Gigolette checked in fourth in her two most recent excursions at this level, on turf and Polytrack.

Rounding out the field are outsiders Brewtiful Girl and Silver Sands.