Stormy Victoria makes rare synthetic start in Ontario Fashion

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The Belmont shipper Stormy Victoria stands out on Beyer Speed Figures in Saturday’s $125,000 Ontario Fashion Stakes. It will be interesting to see if the grass expert is able to transfer her solid form to Woodbine’s Tapeta surface in the six-furlong dash.

Stormy Victoria has been campaigned predominantly as a turf miler by trainer Christophe Clement, who ran her twice in the spring. After finishing a neck back in second in the April 29 Powder Break Stakes at Gulfstream, she was a troubled third here in the Grade 2 Nassau.

Stormy Victoria returned from a four-month layoff Sept. 22 at Belmont, and mounted an eye-catching rally to win a six-furlong optional claimer and earn a 93 Beyer.

The Grade 3 Ontario Fashion lured seven others, and it could be the final career start for 2016 Canadian champion female sprinter River Maid.

KEY CONTENDERS

Stormy Victoria, by Stormy River
Last 3 Beyers: 93-84-91

◗ The 5-year-old won her lone synthetic-track race in a sprint against maidens late in her 2-year-old campaign in her native France.

River Maid, by Where’s the Ring
Last 3 Beyers: 86-81-84

◗ She’s Hip No. 133 in the Keeneland November breeding stock sale. She ran a winning race last out when a wide-closing second in the Sweet Briar Too Stakes.

“She’s been absolutely wonderful, a joy to be around,” said trainer Robert Tiller. “Like all horses, she’s had her little issues, and we’ve dealt with them.”

Moonlit Promise, by Malibu Moon
Last 3 Beyers: 87-77-84

◗ She closed inside to take the Sweet Briar Too in her first start of the year Sept. 17. Trainer Josie Carroll has worked her three times in the interim, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see her go favored.

Code Warrior, by Society’s Chairman
Last 3 Beyers: 75-81-88

◗ The former California mainstay has been here since capturing the Grade 3 Hendrie in June. She’s coming off a fading 10th behind the Breeders’ Cup-bound Ami’s Mesa in the Grade 2 Presque Isle Downs Masters.

Minks Aprise, by Northern Afleet
Last 3 Beyers: 74-85-87

◗ After a troubled second in the 6 1/2-furlong Hendrie, she won the June 18 Trillium Stakes going long, and she has been idle since a subpar performance July 22 in the Grade 3 Ontario Matron.

Sugar Jones, by Old Forester
Last 3 Beyers: 63-84-84

◗ She notched three consecutive allowance wins prior to coming up empty in the Sweet Briar Too, when trainer Mike Mattine said she may have been cycling.

“She’s back to her old self,” Mattine said.