Time for Oistins to get going

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Oistins returns from a layoff Saturday at Woodbine in the $125,000 Victorian Queen Stakes. In spite of her relatively low Beyer Speed Figures, she will likely be favored in the six-furlong dash for Ontario-sired 2-year-old fillies.

Oistins, a front-runner trained by Terry Jordan, graduated second time out in a 4 1/2-furlong maiden special, receiving a 57 Beyer. Oistins has been idle since her neck victory Aug. 2 in the six-furlong Nandi Stakes. For covering the distance in 1:12.22, she was awarded just a 53 Beyer in that race for Ontario-sired fillies.

Jordan said he gave Oistins a break after the Nandi, with the Victorian Queen in mind.

"Instead of running her against tougher horses, we just decided to give her lots of time and wait for this Ontario-sired race," Jordan said. "She's been training really well. She runs with a lot of courage. She tries all the way. She just keeps going."

Jordan said Oistins is diminutive in stature for an offspring of Peaks and Valleys.

"She's not very tall, but she's wide," said Jordan. "She's a stocky little thing. Most of the Peaks and Valleys are a lot bigger. I have another one in the barn who's twice the size of her."

Hastetothewedding won her only outing Sept. 12 in a five-furlong maiden dash. She dueled along the rail through quick fractions and drew clear for a two-length score in 58.14, a time that got her a 68 Beyer.

"We thought she'd win, and she obliged," said trainer Laurie Silvera. "I believe that six furlongs won't be out of her range. She's as good as she can possibly get right now. She's definitely on top of her game."

Silvera has lots of admiration for Hastetothewedding, a daughter of One Way Love and the Red Ransom mare Scarlet Chimes, whom he trained.

"She's a pretty filly, with an extremely good mind," said Silvera of Hastetothewedding. "She's great to work around. She has a good temperament, unlike the rest of [her family]."

Nocookiesforpapa led throughout her debut in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden contest Aug. 7, earning a 61 Beyer. She set the pace before fading to sixth most recently in the seven-furlong Muskoka, a stakes for graduates of local yearling sales.

Elated Moon hasn't shown much since her third-place finish in the open My Dear Stakes in June. She was seventh in the Sept. 7 Muskoka.