Successful claim Foxxy Belle well-spotted for first start of year

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – A group of seven has been assembled for the Sunday headliner on the second card of the Woodbine meet, a second-level optional-claiming dash headed by Foxxy Belle.

Foxxy Belle did some serious damage on turf and the Tapeta after trainer Norm McKnight claimed her for $25,000 last June for owner Tommy Massis. She subsequently reeled off two consecutive scores, beating $25,000 conditioned claimers on turf and first-level allowance rivals on Tapeta.

Foxxy Belle threw in a clunker when she was sent long for the first time in a Sept. 6 optional claimer. When cutting back to three-quarters three weeks later, she was a stalking second to Sanity. She went on to win two straight second-level optional events over six furlongs, one on turf and the other on Tapeta with a career-best 91 Beyer Speed Figure.

Foxxy Belle never got to run on the penultimate day of the 2019 meet because she was on the portion of the Dec. 14 card that was canceled due to unsafe track conditions. She got the winter off and has been working right along this spring, including five-eighths in 59 seconds last weekend.

Sunday’s feature is going five-eighths on the main track. Foxxy Belle drew post 3, with Justin Stein aboard. She gets to run protected this time because she ran with a $60,000 tag in all four of her starts at this level, which makes her eligible for the conditions of the race.

:: Want to get your Past Performances for free? Click to learn more.

“She’s doing real good,” said Massis, who made recent headlines when he cashed for more than $1.1 million on a difficult Hong Kong wager. “I hate the number three.”

Trainer Marty Drexler entered Subzero Plus and Veil, who are both making their first start since the fall.

Subzero Plus was sent to the farm after she crushed first-level allowance types with an 88 Beyer on the Tapeta on Oct. 20. The versatile 6-year-old was previously in solid turf form. Her tactical speed should come in handy after breaking from the outside under Rafael Hernandez, who takes over for the retired Eurico Da Silva.

Veil chased Foxxy Belle home when second and fifth in her two most recent excursions. She defeated $40,000 claimers Oct. 4 in her lone victory from eight outings last year, during which she was claimed from her season opener for $62,500. Luis Contreras has the mount.

Trainer Robert Tiller sends out a pair of comebackers, Fresh Dreams and turf expert Miss Savvy.

Fresh Dreams cleared the first allowance condition going 5 1/2 furlongs Nov. 16, three weeks after toppling $25,000 claimers.

Hell N Wild has been reunited with trainer Lorne Richard following a layoff. She was competitive while sprinting at this class in November.