Speed Seeker could show another dimension in Ontario Colleen
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Speed Seeker will try to give trainer Joan Scott her first Woodbine stakes victory in Saturday’s $150,000 Ontario Colleen, going a mile on turf for 3-year-old fillies.
Scott nearly won the 2010 Hendrie here with the speedy Dr. Zic, who ran second in that Grade 3 stakes. This is her first year based at Woodbine, and Speed Seeker made quite a splash first time out in a one-mile maiden special weight race on the grass June 8. She darted out to the lead and then widened her advantage throughout to prevail by 7 3/4 lengths over two next-out winners.
Speed Seeker finished a close fifth in her only other outing at Saratoga in the Grade 2 Lake George Stakes on July 23. Scott felt that Speed Seeker never got to run freely in that 1 1/16-mile turf event and had something in reserve at the end.
“She galloped out past everybody after the wire,” Scott said.
The Grade 3 Ontario Colleen, which lured a contentious field of 10, is carded as race 8. The $100,000 Flaming Page, a 1 1/2-mile overnight stakes on the grass, drew a weak field of seven headed by Savvy Hester and Players Club.
KEY CONTENDERS
Speed Seeker (Last 2 Beyers: 82-86)
◗ The lightly raced daughter of Heatseeker could have the most upside in the field. She graduated on the front end but appears to have a passing gear. Avoiding a speed duel with Executive Allure and Daring Kathy would be a wise strategy.
Unspurned (Last 3 Beyers: 74-74-82)
◗ The impressive Bison City Stakes winner is experimenting on grass after working quickly over the turf training course. She is by the excellent turf sire Lemon Drop Kid, but there isn’t much turf breeding in her immediate family.
Ready to Act (Last 3 Beyers: 79-80-85)
◗ The versatile Grade 2 winner was recently transferred from Chad Brown to trainer Mark Casse. She was headed for victory here in last year’s Grade 2 Natalma Stakes before ducking in from the whip and losing her rider.
Hot and Spicy (Last 3 Beyers: 70-64-80)
◗ The Saratoga-based gray or roan filly stumbled at the break in the Woodbine Oaks and finished a clear second in the Bison City. She hasn’t competed on grass since her sharp debut score in March at Gulfstream.
Daring Kathy (Last 3 Beyers: 84-82-83)
◗ She captured back-to-back stakes in the spring at Gulfstream before weakening to third in the Lake George. The need-the-lead type has the quick local stakes winner Executive Allure to deal with and may not be as fast as that rival.