Woodbine: Evil Kitten peaking for La Lorgnette

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – A fresh Evil Kitten will try to notch her first stakes Sunday at Woodbine in the $150,000 La Lorgnette, a 1 1/16-mile route for 3-year-old fillies, which was won by champion Biofuel and Grade 1 winner Hooh Why in recent years.

Evil Kitten ran erratically in 2011, when she won her maiden for $50,000 and ran second in a two-turn allowance. She also competed in three stakes and was beaten double digits on each occasion.

Evil Kitten has run three solid races in as many starts this year. She won her June 23 season opener in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance with an 85 Beyer Speed Figure and then finished fourth in the seven-furlong Duchess Stakes.

Evil Kitten showed that she can go a mile on the grass here Aug. 25, when she was a prominent second to the favored shipper Colonial Flag in the Grade 3 Ontario Colleen Stakes.

Trainer Nick Gonzalez said Evil Kitten matured last winter and appears to be at her peak now.

“She needed to grow up a little over the wintertime,” Gonzalez said. “We got kind of a late start with her, and she’s lightly raced. Missing a lot of those hot days worked to our advantage. Having a horse who’s only run three times is a good thing right about now.”

La Tia, based at Arlington with trainer Brian Williamson, is a need-the-lead type who figures to set the pace under Justin Stein. La Tia captured the Grade 3 Arlington Oaks over nine furlongs in her last Polytrack start. She finished a length back in fourth last time in the Hatoof Stakes on the grass.

Trainer Mark Casse entered two closers by Sky Mesa, Sky Dreamer and Sky High Lady.

After capturing an allowance route here July 2, Sky Dreamer was beaten three-quarters of length when second to La Tia in the July 21 Arlington Oaks. She never challenged most recently in the Ontario Colleen.

Sky High Lady also landed a 1 1/16-mile allowance earlier in the meet. She has been freshened since ending up sixth after a wide trip in the July 28 Duchess.

Appealing Cat ships in from Maryland for trainer Graham Motion.

Appealing Cat prevailed in a nonwinners-of-two allowance over a mile on the Tapeta surface at Presque Isle Downs on May 31. She has since run fifth and second in two minor stakes.

The Bob Tiller-trained Nikkis Smartypants won two 6 1/2-furlong sprints in August, against maidens and first-level allowance opposition.