For Spring Tempest, patience a virtue in Mazarine

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Spring Tempest reverted to a closing style when she took the 6 1/2-furlong Muskoka Stakes and will stretch out to 1 1/16 miles in Saturday’s $150,000 Mazarine Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Woodbine.

Spring Tempest rallied for second behind eventual stakes winner Conquest Vivi when debuting June 12. She was a bit player in two maiden special weight sprints in July under jockey Eurico Da Silva.

With Patrick Husbands aboard Aug. 31, Spring Tempest broke through in the Muskoka, rallying strongly from seventh to prevail over three next-out winners, most notably South Ocean Stakes winner Cindervella.

“We were always wanting her to come from off the pace,” said trainer Steve Owens. “She did that in her first race. That’s basically how I wanted her ridden. Unfortunately, she was a little sharp with Eurico. She dragged him out there, and he rode her the way he rides most of his horses – settles them and lets them get their feet under them. I was looking for a different kind of a ride. I had Patrick Husbands come and breeze her [before the Muskoka], and he quite liked her.”

Owens said Spring Tempest exited the Muskoka in good shape, and that he has been pointing her toward the Grade 3 Mazarine.

“Patrick said she’s doing really well,” Owens said. “He’s worked her every time. I think she has a big shot.”

KEY CONTENDERS

Spring Tempest, by Spring At Last

Last 3 Beyers: 70-59-59

◗ Owens believes she has all the necessary tools to get the distance.

“She’s got a light frame, like a deer,” Owens said. “She doesn’t carry a lot of weight, just the right amount. She just trains like she wants to keep going. You can’t pull her up. She wants to go around again.”

Just Be Kind, by Sky Mesa

Beyers: 75-69

◗ She is unbeaten in two starts, both sprints, including the Ontario Debutante Stakes.

◗ She’s a full sister to a stakes-winning sprinter, and the average winning distance of her sire’s progeny is 6.8 furlongs.

Let It Ride Mom, by Into Mischief

Beyers: 74-67

◗ After graduating at first asking, she finished a close second as the favorite in the Ontario Debutante.

◗ She’s bred to be a sprinter-miler.

Gale Force, by Giant’s Causeway

◗ The unraced blue blood is out of Canadian Triple Tiara winner Sealy Hill, the dam of graded stakes winners Hillaby and Belle Hill.

Lemon Zip, by Ghostzapper

Beyers: 60-45

◗ She came from off slow fractions to win going six furlongs in her second start.

◗ There is ample stamina in her quality pedigree.