Victoriana looks like a two-horse turf race

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The $131,125 Victoriana, the supporting stakes feature on Monday's holiday program at Woodbine, boils down to a two-horse race between Heyahohowdy and Inish Glora.

Heyahohowdy, a two-time stakes winner and Sovereign Award finalist in the turf filly and mare division last year, and Inish Glora, who is coming off a sharp score in the July 20 prep, will slug it out in the Victoriana, a 1 1/16-mile turf race for Ontario-sired horses.

Both enjoy racing close to the pace and none of the six other fillies and mares in the field is likely to come between them.

Heyahohowdy won a pair of Ontario-sired turf stakes for 3-year-old fillies last year, taking the seven-furlong Passing Mood and one-mile La Prevoyante for trainer Norm Desouza.

After racing for two different trainers in the United States following her Woodbine campaign, Heyahohowdy returned to Woodbine and another new trainer, Abraham Katryan, who sent her out to finish a close fourth in the Zadracarta over six furlongs of turf June 30.

And "close" is the operative word, as Heyahohowdy was boxed throughout the stretch run and was beaten 1 3/4 lengths.

"With a clear trip, the outcome might have been a little different," said Katryan, adding that he was still getting to know Heyahohowdy when he ran her for the first time.

"I knew she was training well, and did everything right, but I didn't have a very good handle on her."

Katryan has learned much more about Heyahohowdy over the past month, and is hoping that familiarity will pay dividends in the Victoriana.

"Instead of going in the prep I decided to give her some time off, so she'd be fresh," said Katryan. "She's worked really good, on turf both times. And she's really put on some weight - she's beefed up quite a bit.

"She's settled in, and she has a good attitude. I'm very pleased with her; I think she'll run a big race."

Emile Ramsammy takes over aboard Heyahohowdy, who will be making her first start for the Kelynack Racing Stable of Glenn Harvey after being purchased privately following the Zadracarta.

Inish Glora, a 5-year-old owned by Robert Costigan, was a four-length winner of the $89,000 Victoriana prep under new rider Todd Kabel.

"I thought she would run good, but I was surprised she ran as good as she did," said Mac Benson, who was sending out Inish Glora for just the second time this season after watching her finish third under third-level allowance terms in a main-track sprint three weeks earlier.

Benson noted that the 94 Beyer Speed Figure that she earned in the prep was the best of Inish Glora's career. "Todd loves her," he added.

Rounding out the field will be Spanish Decree, the only other stakes winner in the lineup, plus Night Edition, Rosharon, Shrimp Tempura, Dancen in the Sun, and Red Leave Rose.