Two buy-ins look tough

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Ernfold and Resentless were supplemented to Saturday's $250,000 Princess Elizabeth Stakes at a cost of $7,500 apiece. Both are prominent players in the 1 1/16-mile race for Canadian-bred 2-year-old fillies at Woodbine.

Ernfold, a closer trained by Reade Baker, came up a nose shy of landing her debut in a six-furlong maiden special Aug. 2, and she subsequently beat a good field in a mile and 70-yard maiden event.

Ernfold switched to the turf for her last race, the Grade 3 Natalma Stakes, in which she was a troubled third behind Bay to Bay and Jungle Tale, who was pre-entered in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

"I thought that wasn't the easiest third in the world," said Baker. "Things could have worked out a little different for her. Horses got in her way."

Ernfold, a $100,000 yearling purchase at Keeneland, is a half-sister to the Grade 1-placed Wynning Ride, who was fourth as the favorite in this year's Woodbine Oaks.

"She's done everything right, right from the start," said Baker. "She's a good-looking filly. She's medium-sized, and well-balanced. She's got a lot of pedigree. She's got everything going for her."

Resentless, trained by Ian Howard, graduated second time out on the lead, earning an 85 Beyer Figure in that seven-furlong maiden special for Ontario-sired fillies.

Most recently going 1 1/16 miles in the Grade 3 Mazarine Stakes, Resentless set an honest pace before fading to finish seven lengths back in fourth.

"A bunch came to her at the three-eighths pole, and that made her go quicker than she wanted to go," said Howard. "She did dig in and put them away, but then the late closers swamped her."

Howard believes that Resentless' ability to stay a route of ground will be put to the test on Saturday.

"The only question I have is if two turns is really what she wants to do," said Howard. "I think she does, but I don't think you really know until you run them two turns a couple of times."

Roan Inish, a maiden from Ireland, is exiting an eighth-place finish in the Group 3 Park Stakes.

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