Strut the Course returns to Polytrack for Ontario Matron
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Reigning Canadian champion older female Strut the Course added another feather to her cap when she took the Grade 2 Dance Smartly Stakes on the grass. She goes back to the Polytrack on Saturday at Woodbine in the $150,000 Ontario Matron, a Grade 3 stakes at 1 1/16 miles.
Strut the Course was blocked behind rivals in the stretch before ending up fifth when returning from a six-month layoff May 23 in the Grade 2 Nassau Stakes. Trip handicappers were all over her when she resurfaced July 5 in the 1 1/8-mile Dance Smartly, which she won by a head at 3-1 after trying to lay in through the stretch.
“She came out of the race really good,” trainer Barb Minshall said. “She’s getting better all the time. She handles the Polytrack really well, so I thought I’d put her in here. She’s training great.”
Strut the Course romped in back-to-back Polytrack stakes last fall, most notably the Grade 3 Maple Leaf.
Minshall also has a contender in Saturday’s supporting feature, Hollywood Hideaway, who is among eight 2-year-olds in the $125,000 Colin Stakes.
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KEY CONTENDERS
Strut the Course (Last 3 Beyers: 92-90-67)
◗ Her only poor performance came on dirt in the Grade 2 Falls City at Churchill in November.
“I’m still not convinced that she won’t run good on the dirt,” Minshall said. “I think it was the way that race set up and the jockey not knowing her. She got sprayed with dirt right out of the gate into the first turn. It took her out of the race, and she didn’t know what to do.”
Checkered Past (Last 3 Beyers: 85-60-74)
◗ The Sam-Son Farm homebred won the 1 1/16-mile Trillium Stakes for the second year in a row June 13. Another strong showing seems forthcoming in the third race of her form cycle.
Copper Kitten (Last 3 Beyers: 88-82-79)
◗ The late-blooming 4-year-old finished a close fifth in the Dance Smartly. She might be at her best on grass but is no slouch on Polytrack.
Uchenna (Last 3 Beyers: 83-84-75)
◗ The English import wasn’t far back in fourth in the Trillium, her first synthetic-track start on this side of the pond.
The Zip Zip Man in Colin Stakes
The Zip Zip Man, a Chicago shipper trained by Mike Stidham, could be favored in the six-furlong Colin off a fast debut score over Arlington’s Polytrack. His 83 Beyer Speed Figure from that maiden special weight dash is the sixth-highest earned by a 2-year-old on the continent this year.
Hollywood Hideaway captured his debut by disqualification after leading the way on grass in the six-furlong Victoria Stakes here June 20.
“I’ve always liked him,” Minshall said. “He trains real well on the Polytrack. He’s a very rateable horse.”