Starless Night, Unhindered meet in Ontario Debutante

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The undefeated stakes winners Starless Night and Unhindered will clash Saturday at Woodbine in the $125,000 Ontario Debutante, a six-furlong stakes for 2-year-old fillies.

Starless Night won both of her races in front-running style under Eurico Rosa Da Silva, including the 5 1/2-furlong Shady Well Stakes for Ontario-breds on July 13. Her lone work since then was a five-furlong breeze in a bullet 1:00.40 on July 31.

“We’ve given her four weeks in between races,” said trainer Nick Gonzalez. “She’s gotten bigger and stronger with every race. She’s filled out nicely in the shoulders and neck and has trained forwardly. I’m really happy with her.”

Gonzalez said he believes Starless Night doesn’t have to have the lead to get the job done.

“Both times she ran, I told Eurico that she didn’t have to be in front,” Gonzalez said. “We’ve stuck her in behind horses in the morning, and she was quite content to sit there. It depends how the race sets up. I’m going to let her run out of there, but if somebody wants to go crazy, I’m not going to worry about it.”

Jesse Campbell inherits the mount on Starless Night from Da Silva, who had a prior commitment to Sweet Dreams.

KEY CONTENDERS

Starless Night (Last 2 Beyers: 64-69)

FORMULATOR FACT: Gonzalez has won at a 7 percent clip with 2-year-olds in non-graded stakes over the past five years, with a return on investment of 82 cents.

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Unhindered (Last 2 Beyers: 69-57)

◗ The speedy daughter of hot juvenile sire Stormy Atlantic took the open My Dear Stakes by a diminishing three-quarters of a length over two of her current rivals.

◗ The stretch-out from five to six furlongs could be a major hurdle for her if she doesn’t clear the field early.

Dixie Twist (Last Beyer: 57)

◗ After being steadied heading into the turn, the daughter of Indian Charlie rallied very wide for second when she debuted in the Shady Well. The unplaced Eff Bee Eye came out of the race to take the Nandi Stakes by 3 1/4 lengths with a 56 Beyer Speed Figure.

Sweet Dreams (Last 2 Beyers: 67-65)

◗ She was hard ridden for second in the My Dear, and the daughter of Candy Ride should welcome the move out to six furlongs. Her trainer, Gail Cox, also entered recent maiden winner Roaming.

Happy to Go (Last 2 Beyers: 62-68)

◗ The Arlington invader galloped out in front after checking in third in the My Dear for Armando De La Cerda, the trainer of La Tia, who shipped in to win the Grade 3 Ontario Matron in a romp here July 26.