Ward brings speedy fillies for Frost King Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Wesley Ward entered two speedy fillies against the boys in Saturday’s $100,000 Frost King Stakes, Artie’s Princess and Owlette, but he might not run them both in the seven-furlong sprint for Ontario-sired 2-year-olds.

Both are nominated to next Saturday’s $100,000 South Ocean Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile route for Ontario-sired fillies, and Ward said he will make a decision in due time.

“I may scratch one and run against the fillies next weekend, or I may run them both,” said Ward, who shipped up both fillies from Keeneland. “I’m just waiting to see which direction I’m going to go in.”

Owlette is unbeaten in three starts, all at Woodbine, since ending up second in her April 17 debut at Keeneland. She won the 5 1/2-furlong Shady Well Stakes on July 27 and the six-furlong Victorian Queen Stakes on Sept. 21 in her last two outings.

Artie’s Princess captured her two races with ease by a combined total of 8 3/4 lengths. They were a five-furlong maiden dash here Sept. 14 and a six-furlong nonwinners-of-two here Oct. 9. Both were hybrid races that combined Ontario-sired types with $40,000 claimers.

“I like good spacing between races, especially off of big efforts,” Ward said. “Both of Artie’s Princess’s efforts were big. That’s why I was thinking maybe waiting with her and giving her an extra week with a work over the track. But Owlette has had good spacing, and her mind seems more like a pony. You kind of have to kick her to get her around there. Mind-wise, you would think she would take to the route distance.”

The Frost King goes as the eighth on an 11-race card.

KEY CONTENDERS

Artie’s Princess, by We Miss Artie

Beyers: 77-73

◗ The massive bay is a homebred owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, who campaigned Grade 1 winner We Miss Artie, the beaten favorite in the 2014 Queen’s Plate.

Owlette, by Frac Daddy

Beyers: 80-76-76

◗ Owned by Ten Broeck Farm, she worked five-eighths head-and-head with Artie’s Princess in 1:00.20 on Nov. 4 at Keeneland.

“They worked on the dirt,” Ward said. “Visually, Artie’s Princess was better than Owlette.”

Forester’s Turn, by Old Forester

Beyers: 76-66

◗ Despite running greenly, he comfortably beat Ontario-sired opposition going 5 1/2 furlongs at first asking Oct. 4. Three weeks later, he doubled up in a six-furlong nonwinners-of-two for Ontario-sired stock and $40,000 claimers. His trainer, Robert Tiller, has won the Frost King twice.

Rockcrest, by Old Forester

Last 3 Beyers: 65-74-58

◗ After winning his first two starts, including the Simcoe Stakes here, he finished second in the Bull Page Stakes here and fifth in the Indian Summer Stakes at Keeneland.