Woodbine: Impossible Time still formidable in Victoriana repeat try

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Even though Impossible Time’s fruitful career appears to be winding down, she should be favored in her bid to capture the $125,000 Victoriana Stakes for the second year in a row at Woodbine Sunday.

Impossible Time, 6, garnered the Sovereign Award for champion older female in Canada last year, winning 5 of 9 starts, including three stakes. She came from well off a fast pace to win the 2010 Victoriana by 4 3/4 lengths, with a Beyer Speed Figure of 90.

Impossible Time was pronounced in foal to Speightstown after being bred to the champion sprinter when she was based at Keeneland in the spring, which is one of the reasons why she’s started only once this year. That was a closing third-place finish in the seven-furlong Zadracarta Stakes here June 18.

“I gave her the one run going shorter,” said trainer Roger Attfield. “She wants to run [longer] now.”

Attfield said he bypassed some of the hot summer weather with Impossible Time with the Victoriana in mind.

“She’s in good shape,” Attfield said. “She hasn’t missed any works, and she’s coming into the race good.”

Attfield has lots of admiration for Impossible Time, who will have Jesse Campbell as her new rider on Sunday.

“She’s been great for me,” Attfield said. “She’s been a very genuine filly who always gives her best, and she’s been delightful to train. They all get to the stage where they have to pack it in, and I think she’ll be a very good broodmare.”

Nine other Ontario-sired females were entered in the Victoriana, including Venus Bay.

Venus Bay, a 4-year-old trained by Mark Casse, was a useful performer in Ontario-sired company last year, and she cleared the second Ontario-sired allowance condition when she came off the sidelines May 1. Venus Bay won against open first-level allowance company July 10 in a 10-furlong turf route with a 72 Beyer.

“Honestly, I’ve always liked her,” said Casse. “She tries hard. She has her quirks. Other than her first start, when she was in the 1-hole, she’s only thrown one really bad one.”

Trainer Mike Doyle entered restricted stakes winners Dancing Raven and Sans Sousi.

Dancing Raven finished second to Jenny’s So Great in the Zadracarta after winning the Ballade on the Polytrack. Sans Sousi won her last start in the five-furlong Rainbow Connection on the Fort Erie turf.