Will She likely to show the way in Rainbow Connection

It’s hard to say which front-runner will have the edge in Tuesday’s $75,000 Rainbow Connection Stakes at Fort Erie, but the stakes winner Will She could be the speed of the speed in the five-furlong turf dash for Ontario-sired females.

A Woodbine-based 3-year-old trained by Mike Keogh, Will She won the six-furlong Fanfreluche Stakes on the synthetic Tapeta surface at 2. She launched her 2017 campaign by running third April 16 in the six-furlong Star Shoot, an open stakes, and then made all the running in winning a six-furlong Ontario-sired allowance May 12.

Will She just missed after setting a blistering pace when switching to turf June 11 in the 6 1/2-furlong Alywow Stakes. Left in her wake were several American shippers, along with the talented Silent Sonet, who came right back to romp in allowance company.

Most recently July 22, Will She was bet down to favoritism against older opposition in a six-furlong optional claimer in which she faded to fourth after leading most of the way.

The Rainbow Connection goes as race 3 on an appealing eight-race card that begins at 4:20 p.m. Eastern.

KEY CONTENDERS

Will She, by Wando
Last 3 Beyers: 81-85-86

◗ She’s been working fast on the dirt training track at Woodbine, including a half-mile in a bullet 47.40 seconds Aug. 6. Her regular jockey, Jessie Campbell, has a rare Fort Erie ride on the Gustav Schickedanz homebred.

Veaisha, by Wando
Last 3 Beyers: 80-72-74

◗ She’s been freshened since ending up second in a July 2 optional claimer to Kasuga, who subsequently lost a heartbreaker in the Grade 3 Royal North Stakes. All five of her wins have come in front-running style under Luis Contreras, but she showed last time that she has a passing gear. Trainer Larry Attard is putting blinkers on the 5-year-old.

Tahnee, by Where’s the Ring
Last 3 Beyers: 81-80-89

◗ The rapid 7-year-old is winless in three starts since capturing the 2015 Rainbow Connection and has been idle for 14 months. This is her first start for trainer Richard Morden, who’s worked her over three different surfaces at Woodbine in preparation for the comeback.

Green Freedom, by Not Bourbon
Last 3 Beyers: 65-65-51

◗ Both of her victories came on the Tapeta, but she wasn’t far back in fourth last time after mounting a wide rally from off slow fractions in a nonwinners-of-three turf sprint for Ontario-sired stock and $40,000 claimers. The 3-year-old could be along to pick up some of the pieces under Emma-Jayne Wilson.