Volatile Vickie seeks turnaround

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The aptly named Volatile Vickie has run to extremes in her two outings at the meeting, and will be tough if she brings her "A" game to Friday's Woodbine feature, a five-furlong allowance for fillies and mares.

Volatile Vickie made her debut March 20 at Gulfstream in an $80,000 maiden sprint, in which she set the pace before ending up second behind Humor Me Molly, who came back to take a quick preliminary allowance. Volatile Vickie cut back to five furlongs in her second start against maiden special weight opponents here April 18 and won by 4 1/2 lengths in the mud, earning a good Beyer Speed Figure of 81.

Volatile Vickie ran a strange race here in the slop last Sunday in allowance company. She failed to show her customary speed, and was checked on the backstretch while running erratically. She was eased her on the turn, but appeared none the worse for wear after the race.

Owner/trainer Laurie Silvera is taking the blinkers off Volatile Vickie, a daughter of Elusive Quality, who is the sire of Kentucky Derby winner Smarty Jones.

Rounding out the field for Friday's seventh race are Pucker, Silver Champ, Cricket Wicket, Victoria Princess, Princess Tish, Miss Kitty Hawk, and the entry of Wila West and Gilded Nip.

Silver Champ flashed speed on a dead rail before fading when she came ran off a layoff on opening day. She is versatile in terms of running style and managed to hit the board several times at this allowance level last year.

Cricket Wicket beat Silver Champ after leading until deep stretch when she was a close third in her season debut. She seems to prefer the turf, and has other speed to deal with on Friday.

Princess Tish comes off a narrow maiden victory March 13 at the Fair Grounds. The runner-up in that grass sprint came back to be second in a Keeneland maiden special, and the seventh- and eighth-place finishers both went on to win in maiden special weight competition.

Victoria Princess won back-to-back six-furlong races in the fall, both in Ontario-sired company. She was a disappointment in her lone attempt at this level in November.

Miss Kitty Hawk had a productive 2003 campaign, while competing in the middle claiming ranks. She needs the lead in order to do her optimum running, and is probably at her best in longer sprints.

Pucker overcame a slow pace to win a slow maiden special in her second start in late November.