Springside may like going farther

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - It might be the farther the better for Springside, who will reach out around two turns for the first time Thursday at Woodbine in the second race, a first-level allowance for 2-year-old fillies.

Springside was a $335,000 yearling purchase by Jim and Alice Sapara. She attracted support at 5-1 when she debuted in July, but was never in contention.

Springside made up some ground in the stretch after trailing the field in a 6 1/2-furlong turf sprint in September, and wound up 7 1/4 lengths back in ninth. Not surprisingly, she was let go at 35-1 in her last race, a seven-furlong maiden special on the Polytrack, but she got the job done after rallying four wide from midpack.

Springside is by Queen's Plate winner Awesome Again, who won the 1998 Breeders' Cup Classic, and the move to 1 1/16 miles should be to her benefit. She has worked four times since her last race, and trainer Josie Carroll has been posting solid numbers with sprint-to-route runners.

Carroll will also saddle Sweet Temptress, who won her only start on the front end in a mile and 70-yard route for $40,000 maidens.

David Clark will ride Springside again, and Robert Landry retains the mount on Sweet Temptress.

Song of Charm was claimed from her maiden victory at Keeneland for $50,000 by high-percentage trainer Wesley Ward, who is 0 for 4 with 2-year-olds making their first start off the claim over the past five years.

Song of Charm showed little in her first three outings in maiden special company at three different tracks, and she only got a 52 Beyer in her maiden win. Emile Ramsammy will ride Song of Charm, a half-sister to champion sprinter Artax.

Babylonian graduated at first asking in a $32,000 sprint, and subsequently ran seventh behind Van Lear Rose and Livin Lovin in the Grade 3 Mazarine Stakes. Van Lear Rose came back to finish sixth in the BC Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita, and Livin Lovin returned to take the Grade 3 Tempted at Aqueduct.

Babylonian was fifth in a six-furlong allowance last Thursday.

Southern Flame won two of her last three starts, both in middle claimers, and has never run farther than six furlongs.

Secret Skills could link up with Sweet Temptress on the front end. She set slow fractions when she won her maiden at seven furlongs against $40,000 opposition.