Surtsey on hunt for graded black type in Royal North
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Surtsey closed well over a yielding turf course to win the Zadracarta Stakes over seven furlongs in her last start June 27 at Woodbine, but she will be shortening up to six furlongs here for Sunday’s Grade 3 Royal North Stakes.
Surtsey has not run shorter than seven furlongs since the start of her 3-year-old season in 2013, but trainer Kevin Attard said the Royal North presents an opportunity for graded black type.
“I don’t know if six furlongs is an ideal distance for her,” he said. “I like her at seven-eighths to a mile, but this is a graded opportunity where she could get some black type under her belt. In these six-furlong races, sometimes they set up for a deep closer.”
Attard said he envisioned an off-the-pace trip for Surtsey in the Royal North and hopes for a quick pace up front.
“Ideally, I’d like to see that,” he said. “At six furlongs, it’s more probable than at seven-eighths. She runs her best races when she’s left alone early in the race to let her get her feet underneath her. Depending on how the race shapes up, I would think we’ll let her break, let her get settled, and make one run.”
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KEY CONTENDERS
Surtsey (Last 3 Beyers: 91-86-72)
◗ Attard said Surtsey has been in good order since her win in the Zadracarta against Ontario-bred fillies and mares.
“She’s doing well,” he said. “She had a nice little breeze last Friday on the turf to stretch her legs. She’s never been anything fancy or spectacular in the mornings. She’s pretty straightforward.”
Ageless (Last 3 Beyers: 95-95-88)
◗ Ageless won this race last season during a campaign that saw her almost defeat males in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita last November.
◗ Last time out in the Grade 3 Jaipur Stakes at Belmont Park against males, she was forced six wide in the stretch but closed well to finish third.
Leigh Court (Last 3 Beyers: 83-99-94)
◗ Canada’s champion 3-year-old filly in 2013 returns to Woodbine to make her first start for trainer Mike Stidham. Previously trained by Josie Carroll, she was sold at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky select fall mixed sale after her fifth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.
◗ She’s made just two starts on turf but won the Grade 3 Ontario Colleen Stakes in 2013.
Resistivity (Last 3 Beyers: 77-90-88)
◗ She disappointed in the Grade 2 Nassau here May 23 but could redeem herself as she had a pair of strong showings in second-level allowances on turf at Gulfstream Park over the winter.