Sprint championship on the line in Bessarabian

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Canadian champion female sprinter honors could be on the line Saturday at Woodbine when Hazelbrook goes postward in the Grade 2, $175,000 Bessarabian. The seven-furlong event is one of two stakes for fillies and mares on the card, along with the Grade 3, $150,000 Maple Leaf.

A 4-year-old trained by Lorne Richards, Hazelbrook only lost once in five starts this year, which was a second to division rival Lady Speightspeare in the Grade 3 Seaway in September. Lady Speightspeare came back to run a huge third last week in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf.

After winning her season opener in allowance company, Hazelbrook won the Grade 3 Hendrie in July and the Sweet Briar Too Stakes in August. She was odds-on against five overmatched opponents most recently in the Grade 3 Ontario Fashion, in which she rode the rail in a workmanlike win under regular rider Jason Hoyte.

Richards said Hazelbrook has been a challenge to deal with due to stomach problems.

“She’s got an inflammation of her stomach lining,” Richards explained. “We don’t know what’s caused it, but it’s like colitis in people. We give her ulcer medications and monitor her diet a little bit – try to give her smaller meals a little closer together. There’s isn’t any pattern to it. It just seems to happen.”

Richards said Hazelbrook has fared okay since the Ontario Fashion on Oct. 15.

“She’s had a couple of little episodes, but things haven’t gone too bad,” Richards said. “I think she’s ready for a break once this is done. We got plans to bring her back next year. I’m looking forward to trying her long. We think that might be right up her alley.”

Another graded stakes score would boost Hazelbrook’s chances for Sovereign Award consideration, because Lady Speightspeare’s only sprint start this year was in the seven-furlong Seaway, and she’s already a shoo-in to win two over Sovereign Awards.

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. entered 2020 Canadian champion female sprinter Artie’s Princess and Allworthy in the Bessarabian and Transient in the 1 1/4-mile Maple Leaf. Jose Ortiz was named on Artie’s Princess and Transient, while Kazushi Kimura rides Allworthy.

Artie’s Princess shipped in from New York to beat Ontario-sired females in front-running style in the six-furlong Ballade Stakes here June 26. She subsequently ran fifth in the Hendrie and is exiting a come-from-behind victory in the Grade 2 Presque Isle Downs Masters. Another Grade 2 score on Saturday would boost her case for the Sovereign.

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Trainer Mark Casse sends out Our Flash Drive and Beyond Mybudget in the Bessarabian and the supplement Crystal Glacier in the Maple Leaf.

Our Flash Drive is turning back off a troubled second going 1 1/16 miles in the Grade 3 Ontario Matron, her first loss in three synthetic-track starts.

Beyond Mybudget was second behind Hazelbrook in both the Sweet Briar Too and Ontario Fashion.

The Bessarabian lured a field of nine, and the Maple Leaf attracted 11 entrants.

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