Two fillies have found home on turf

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Stakes-placed 3-year-olds Phone Dancer and Marjorie Daw are among the contenders in Friday's featured seventh race at Woodbine, a wide-open grass event for fillies and mares.

The one-mile preliminary allowance will be one of three races shown live on Sportsnet as part of "Woodbine Post Time."

Phone Dancer earned her black type by placing in two dirt stakes in 2000, the Shady Well and the Fanfreluche, but she remained a maiden after eight starts at year's end.

Phone Dancer disappointed in her first two starts this year, but displayed an immediate fondness for the grass when she tried it for the first time June 16, winning a one-mile maiden special with a strong stretch kick.

Trainer Sid Attard wheeled Phone Dancer back into the Ontario Damsel Stakes on July 2. She was bumped shortly after the break in the 6 1/2-furlong Damsel, but regrouped to finish just two lengths back of Highland Mood in fourth. She was subsequently disqualified for interference and was placed fifth by the stewards.

Unbeaten Highland Mood came right back to capture the Passing Mood Stakes with ease, but Damsel runner-up Bel Serenata, a California shipper, trailed the field next time out in the Grade 2 San Clemente Handicap at Del Mar.

Marjorie Daw struggled on the main track in her first four outings, but has found her calling on the grass this season. She closed with a rush to win a six-furlong maiden special June 10, and stalked the pace en route to a fourth-place finish in a July 4 allowance.

Most recently, on July 18 in the seven-furlong Passing Mood, Marjorie Daw raced evenly to end up in third, just 3 1/2 lengths behind the winner.

Laurie Silvera owns and trains Marjorie Daw, a daughter of 1989 Canadian grass champion Charlie Barley.

Rounding out the field for Friday's headliner will be Bonita Bay, Fantastic Allie, Vacuna, Matilda Dancer, Skipping Stone, Queen of the Sea, Fleet Deed, Midway West, Stormy Society, and Soundtrack.

Cosa Rara, who has won her last five races while scaling the value ladder, was entered for the main track only.

Skipping Stone has hit the board in five of her six attempts at this condition. She encountered traffic problems when second in her penultimate start, and ran at least four wide throughout her most recent outing, in which she was a close third. Mark Frostad trains.

Soundtrack rallied wide to capture a one-mile maiden special July 8, and has yet to miss a check in six turf starts for trainer Mike Doyle.

for entries.

Subscribers, to purchase Past Performances.

Non-subscribers, to purchase Past Performances.