Silent Causeway going for La Prevoyante repeat in final career start

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Silent Causeway will try to win the $100,000 La Prevoyante Stakes for the second year in a row in her final career start Saturday at Woodbine.

Silent Causeway notched her first stakes after closing from well off a lively pace in last year’s edition of the 1 1/16-mile event for Ontario-sired females. She struggled early this meet before a confidence-boosting score over $25,000 claimers in August. The 5-year-old won a seven-furlong starter handicap two weeks ago, which was two weeks after a wide fourth-place finish in the Grade 3 Maple Leaf.

Owner-trainer Laura Krasauskaite is confident Silent Causeway is ready to fire her best shot Saturday.

“The last race, we treated it as a workout,” Krasauskaite said. “She’s ready to rumble. She’s sharp. She’s happy. She’s full of energy. I can’t wait for Saturday. I think it’s going to be another win.”

Krasauskaite said it took some time for Silent Causeway to come around this year.

“She starts a little slow,” Krasauskaite explained. “I think it has something to do with the weather and more fitness under her belt that gets her to perform better. She likes fast tracks and cooler weather.”

:: Get Daily Racing Form Past Performances – the exclusive home of Beyer Speed Figures

A daughter of Silent Name, Silent Causeway is headed to the breeding shed next year.

“I think it’s time to retire her,” Krasauskaite said. “She’s done well for me. I’m the kind of person who likes to retire them on a happy note. She’s going to become a mommy and hopefully she produces me another champion horse.”

Il Malocchio, the probable favorite, won the 1 1/4-mile Maple Leaf on Nov. 12 after an ideal inside-out trip from fourth. She had gone winless in her five previous starts at the meet, while a beaten favorite twice versus Ontario-sired allowance company.

“She’s enjoying the cooler weather,” trainer Marty Drexler said. “She had a couple little setbacks in the summer. She got the perfect trip [in the Maple Leaf]. There was a little bit of pace to run at, she saved ground, and the rail was good. It just really set up for her.”

Strega and Lorena are front-runners in the nine-horse field. They could set the table for the favorites if they hook up early.

Strega, second against Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies in the Aug. 14 Bison City Stakes, beat Ontario-sired 3-year-old fillies most recently in the Ashbridges Bay Stakes.

“We were really happy with her last effort,” trainer Kevin Attard said. “She really dug in down the lane and was able to draw away at the end. She’s had a solid year and just missed in the Bison City.”

The erratic Lorena won last year’s Ashbridges Bay in front-running style the only time she competed over 1 1/16 miles. She was softened up in a three-way pace war most recently going seven-eighths in the Grade 2 Bessarabian.

Post time for Saturday’s expanded 13-race card is 12:55 p.m.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.