Toinette rerouted to allowance spot

DEL MAR, Calif. – Toinette was entered for the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Handicap at Del Mar last Saturday but never reached the starting gate.

The day before the Yellow Ribbon, trainer Neil Drysdale found a more suitable race for Toinette’s first start since October – an allowance race with a $100,000 claiming option at a mile on turf on Wednesday.

“She hasn’t run in 10 months,” Drysdale said on Saturday morning. “It wouldn’t have been fair to put her in against Vasilika.”

Even though Vasilika ran third as the 9-10 favorite in the Yellow Ribbon Stakes later that day, finishing a half-length behind winner Beau Recall and Storm the Hill, Drysdale’s point was clear. The graded stakes would have been a tougher race for Toinette’s 2019 debut.

Toinette won the Grade 3 Autumn Miss Stakes at a mile on turf for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita last October, her second graded stakes win in six career starts. Owned by Ken Baca, Lisa and Nicholas Hawkins, and Joseph and Lynne Hudson, Toinette will be favored to win on Wednesday against five rivals.

KEY CONTENDERS

Toinette, by Scat Daddy

Last 3 Beyers: 96-86-91

◗ Toinette has had a steady pattern of workouts since early June, including three works on turf since Drysdale’s stable moved from Santa Anita to Del Mar last month. Flavien Prat, who was aboard for her two graded stakes wins, retains the mount.

◗ Toinette has won at distances ranging from about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita in early 2018 to 1 1/16 miles on turf in the Grade 3 Edgewood Stakes at Churchill Downs in May 2018. She often races from a stalking position and has shown the ability to accelerate quickly.

◗ Drysdale was confident over the weekend Toinette was ready for her 2019 debut.

“She should run well,” he said.

Quebec, by Into Mischief

Last 3 Beyers: 88-89-89

◗ Quebec was third in the Grade 3 Robert Frankel Stakes at Santa Anita last December for trainer Richard Baltas and won a stakes at Gulfstream Park in late April for trainer Robert Dibona. Quebec was fourth, beaten just three-quarters of a length, in the Miss Liberty Stakes at Monmouth Park on May 26. Quebec returned to California a few weeks after that race, rejoining Baltas’s stable.

◗ Quebec drew the rail in Wednesday’s field. She is likely to race near the front and will be ridden by Drayden Van Dyke, who was aboard for a win in an optional claimer on this course last August.

“She seems to be coming around,” Baltas said. “She should be sitting right off the pace. Drayden knows her.”

Poster Girl, by Excellent Art

Last 3 Beyers: 87-72-89

◗ Poster Girl is winless in five starts this year, including a second in the Mizdirection Stakes at five furlongs on turf at Santa Anita in April. Her last win was an optional claimer at 1 1/16 miles on turf here in July 2018.