Singwiththebirds makes stakes debut in Wonder Where

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Singwiththebirds, a half-sister to Grade 1 turf stakes winner and 2013 Canadian Horse of the Year Up With the Birds, will make her stakes debut in Sunday’s $250,000 Wonder Where Stakes for Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies over 1 1/4 miles on Woodbine’s turf course.

Singwiththebirds had an interesting trip in her career debut June 26, when she broke slowly in the one-mile turf route before having to wait for racing room in the stretch. She attempted to split horses down the lane only to see her seam close up, but she rallied along the rail anyway in the final sixteenth to win by a length.

“She got more experience than I was looking for,” trainer Malcolm Pierce said.

Singwithebirds has been given plenty of time between her maiden win and the Wonder Where and comes into the race off a series of breezes on the turf training track. Pierce said Singwiththebirds should be ready for the Wonder Where.

“She’s a pretty special filly, I think,” he said. “She had a work on the turf [last Sunday], and we feel like we’re on target for the Wonder Where with her.”

Key Contenders

Singwiththebirds (Last Beyer: 73)

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Pierce and jockey Eurico Da Silva have combined for a 34 percent strike rate in 29 starts at Woodbine this season, good for a return on investment of $2.96.

Season Ticket (Last 3 Beyers: 86-85-77)

She has been gaining late but has just missed in each of her last two starts in the Ontario Damsel Stakes and the Woodbine Oaks. She gets the added distance she’s been looking for in the Wonder Where and retains jockey Patrick Husbands.

Galina Point (Last 3 Beyers: 86-83-79)

She’s been busy this season, as this will be her seventh start since April. She has narrowly missed in each of her last two starts, losing by a neck to London Tower in the Eternal Search Stakes on July 29 and by a nose to Brooklynsway in the Bison City Stakes on July 12.

Brooklynsway (Last 3 Beyers: 83-78-72)

She broke through with a win in the Bison City after getting over a few issues that hampered her in the Fury Stakes and the Woodbine Oaks. She recorded a bullet five-furlong breeze in 58.20 seconds on the turf training track last Sunday.

Pengally Bay (Last 3 Beyers: 74-62-55)

She’ll face stakes company for the first time but did win her maiden at this distance last time out with a 74 Beyer for trainer Roger Attfield.