Sister Nation seeks breakthrough win in Star Shoot

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – It’s been quite a while since an older maiden has won a stakes at Woodbine, but Sister Nation has the credentials to do so in Sunday’s $100,000 Star Shoot, the headliner on the second day of the 133-day meet.

Sister Nation wasn’t an impact player in her first two juvenile outings, after which she was transferred to trainer Mike De Paulo in November. She made quite a splash in her first try for De Paulo in the Nov. 19 Glorious Song Stakes, rallying wide from far back to drop a half-length decision to the favored Let It Ride Mom.

Sister Nation subsequently finished a creditable fourth in the Old Hat Stakes on the dirt at Gulfstream. She has been idle since running second to Delphinia in the Feb. 4 Cincinnati Trophy Stakes over Turfway’s Polytrack.

De Paulo said he bypassed the Grade 3 Bourbonette Oaks at Turfway with an eye toward the Star Shoot.

“We were looking at the Bourbonette but then decided to wrap her up and start all over again,” De Paulo said. “We left her at Turfway for a little bit. She was in limbo because Woodbine didn’t open until March. I freshened her there and brought her here. She’s doing good. She’s pretty uncomplicated. We’ve no real issues with her. She came from Wesley Ward in pretty good shape. We’re happy to have her.”

The six-furlong Star Shoot drew a well-matched field of seven 3-year-old fillies.

Sister Nation, by Into Mischief
Last 3 Beyers: 70-72-73

◗ Her best race was arguably on the Tapeta here in the Glorious Song.

“She ran huge then going seven-eighths,” De Paulo said.

Red Lodge, by Midshipman
Last 3 Beyers: 74-55-76

◗ She has been laid up since ending up fifth in the Nov. 5 Juvenile Turf Sprint at Santa Anita but won the Colleen Stakes off a layoff in August. Her trainer, Ward, has been very successful with his shippers here on opening weekend in the past.

R Naja, by Exchange Rate
Last 3 Beyers: 72-54-63

◗ She’s exiting a front-running win in a turf sprint at Fair Grounds from which the second and fifth runners both exited to score at the same optional-claiming level.

Gilded Lily, by Speightstown
Last 3 Beyers: 72-68-64

◗ She was a fading fourth last time out in the one-mile Bourbonette after capturing a Feb. 25 allowance route at Turfway.

Will She, by Wando
Last 3 Beyers: 74-46-65

◗ The impressive Fanfreluche Stakes winner is adding Lasix after wintering in Aiken, S.C.