Strut the Course primed for big effort in Nassau
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The champion mare Strut the Course seems as good as ever this year, and the Barb Minshall-trained 6-year-old should be favored going a mile on grass in Sunday’s $200,000 Nassau Stakes at Woodbine.
Strut the Course established herself as a serious grass runner last year, when she won the Grade 2 Dance Smartly and the Grade 2 Canadian before a troubled fourth in the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor. She was a close fifth in her 2015 season opener in the Grade 2 Nassau.
“I thought she ran a really good race in it last year,” Minshall said. “She just got blocked. She had an unlucky stretch run.”
Strut the Course prevailed in a third-level optional claimer on Tapeta in her first run of the year April 30.
“She’s been doing absolutely great,” Minshall said. “She’s breezed amazing. Everything’s good with her. She definitely hasn’t lost a step.”
Nine others were entered in the Nassau, including 2014 Canadian Horse of the Year Lexie Lou, and last year’s champion 3-year-old filly Academic.
Nassau, Race 8
KEY CONTENDERS
Strut the Course, by Strut the Stage
Last 3 Beyers: 90-85-98
◗ She won the Sovereign Award for champion older female in 2014. Last year, she ranked second in the voting for champion turf female, losing by a 115-113 margin to Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Catch a Glimpse.
“It was tough to lose by a couple of points,” Minshall said. “Hopefully, with a little luck, we can make amends this year before she’s retired.”
Academic, by Henny Hughes
Last 3 Beyers: 73-89-83
◗ She’s experimenting on grass off a fade job in the Grade 3 Hendrie. She is by a 10 percent turf sire, and her dam produced two turf winners from five starters, including stakes winner Awesome Fire.
Moon Rainbow, by Smart Strike
Last 3 Beyers: 86-85-76
◗ The lightly raced 4-year-old ran second to Strut the Course while beating Lexie Lou when she came off the bench April 30. Trainer Malcolm Pierce has solid stats second-time off a layoff, and this stakes-placed filly should be a speed threat under leading rider Eurico Da Silva.
Stormy Victoria, by Stormy River
Last Beyer: 93
◗ The French import rallied strongly to land her first start on this side of the pond in a recent optional claimer at Belmont.
Mississippi Delta, by Giant’s Causeway
Last 3 Beyers: 92-88-86
◗ Her fine Gulfstream form included a runner-up finish in the Grade 2 Honey Fox. She won the Alywow Stakes here last June.
Lexie Lou, by Sligo Bay
Last 3 Beyers: 74-82-85
◗ She captured the 2014 Wonder Where Stakes over this course, but has found the mark only once since then.