Woodbine: Ariana D won't make Cup trip

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Ariana D, who has been mentioned as a candidate for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Churchill Downs, instead is scheduled to appear here in next Sunday’s Ontario Fashion.

“Unfortunately, we’re going to have to pass on the Breeders’ Cup,” said Laurie Silvera, who trains the homebred 5-year-old for owner Bill Thompson.

Ariana D would have been making her first start on dirt in the seven-furlong Filly and Mare Sprint.

“Her last work on the dirt, before she was with me, was very unsatisfactory,” said Silvera, with reference to a three-furlong breeze in 37.40 seconds at Churchill Downs on Sept. 17 of last year.

“She came back and worked on Polytrack at Keeneland, and she worked very well. She obviously prefers a synthetic surface, and if the Breeders’ Cup was being run on one we’d be going for sure.”

Ariana D, coming off an impressive win here in the seven-furlong Avowal, will be cutting back to six furlongs for the Ontario Fashion, one of two open filly/mare sprint stakes here which are on her agenda.

The Grade 3, $150,000 Bessarabian, a seven-furlong race in which Ariana D was victorious last year, will be run Nov. 20