Woodbine: Cryptic Message tries turf in Passing Mood Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Cryptic Message will be charting unknown territory Saturday at Woodbine against Ontario-sired 3-year-old filly opposition in the $125,000 Passing Mood Stakes at seven furlongs on the grass. The Passing Mood will be her first start on grass and first at farther than 6 1/2 furlongs.

Cryptic Message had a very productive 2-year-old campaign, during which she won 4 of 5 starts and $340,000. Three of those tallies came in restricted stakes.

Cryptic Message went to the sidelines for nine months after ending up third as the heavy favorite in the seven-furlong Victorian Queen Stakes on Sept. 29.

“She was worn right out after that race,” trainer Ralph Biamonte said. “She had lost 150 pounds. We tried to slow her down in her training, but by the end [of her campaign], she was well spent. We gave her some time off, and she’s put on a lot of weight. She looks a lot better now. She’s a much bigger, stronger filly.”

Cryptic Message faded to third when she came off the bench June 30 in the 6 1/2-furlong allowance prep for the Duchess Stakes.

Biamonte said he has reason to believe that Cryptic Message will handle the stretchout and surface change.

“We’ve been trying to rate her,” Biamonte said of the daughter of Cryptograph and the Deputy Commander mare Abby O. “We seem to think she might rate. We’ve wanted to try her on turf, and the breeding is there. We tried to work her on grass, but we could never get the opportunity.”

Omar Moreno inherits the mount on Cryptic Message from the suspended Eurico Rosa Da Silva.

Trainer Bob Tiller entered a trio of contenders: Laughing Falcon, Line of Best Fit, and Silent Love.

Laughing Falcon took her six-furlong debut on the Polytrack easily June 15 and then doubled up in a six-furlong allowance on the grass June 30.

“Laughing Falcon won on the grass, but I think she’ll be better on” Polytrack, Tiller said.

Line of Best Fit has not competed on the grass. She graduated second time out this spring and then came up empty in an allowance before romping at the first Ontario-sired allowance level two weeks ago.

“Her last race was wonderful,” Tiller said. “She had an excuse the start before. She tore a shoe off at the gate and came back lame.”

Silent Love was an authoritative winner second time out in a one-mile maiden special on the turf June 7, but she struggled two weeks ago in an allowance on the Polytrack.

“She should run better, especially if it’s on the turf,” Tiller said. “She came back full of mucus last time. These things happen.”

Tiller marveled at the quality of the 12-horse Passing Mood field, which also includes Star Shoot Stakes winner Rootham Triple E’s.

“It’s not an easy race,” Tiller said. “There are some talented horses in there.”