Woodbine Oaks cast has questions to answer

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Questions abound regarding Saturday’s $500,000 Woodbine Oaks, the definitive event for Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies, which has been won by the likes of Holy Helena and Lexie Lou.

Can reigning Canadian champion 2-year-old filly Bold Script turn her season around? Will the Kentucky-based turf expert Desert Ride handle the Tapeta? Which of the Mark Casse-trained trio of Speedy Soul, Hastalavistababy, and Preferred Guest has the best chance?

Bold Script’s Beyer Speed Figure of 83, earned in her dominating score in the Nov. 4 Princess Elizabeth Stakes, is easily the highest in the 10-horse Oaks field. Her connections felt that she was too far back before closing belatedly in her season opener in the Grade 2 Davona Dale at Gulfstream.

Bold Script was a flat third as the favorite here most recently in the Grade 3 Selene Stakes. Jockey Gary Boulanger said she had valid excuses in that 1 1/16-mile route.

“She charged the gates and hit her head really hard,” Boulanger explained. “She ended up bleeding from her nasal cavity and had a bunch of mucus as well. That will definitely stop one. She got there so easy turning for home that I thought they’d never get by, but at the eighth pole, she said ‘I’m done.’ ”

The 64th running of the nine-furlong Oaks goes as the ninth on an 11-race card that also includes the $125,000 Plate Trial and $100,000 William D. Graham Memorial Stakes.

KEY CONTENDERS

Bold Script, by Speightstown
Last 3 Beyers: 70-79-83

◗ Boulanger raved about the Stu Simon-trained filly’s five-furlong work in 1:00.80 last Saturday.

“It’s probably her best work this year,” Boulanger said. “She was really manageable. She did it like a pro. The first few times I worked her, she was overly aggressive. She’s going into this race way better mentally than the last one.”

Desert Ride, by Candy Ride
Beyers: 75-73-61

◗ She’s trained by Neil Howard for Sam-Son Farm, which has won the Oaks a record seven times. She notched two of her three outings, all on the grass, including an allowance at Keeneland.

◗ In the synthetic era at Woodbine, only Holy Helena has won the Oaks without having had a synthetic-track start. Desert Ride has never even had a work on synthetics.

“She’s a very classy type of filly,” Howard said. “That doesn’t guarantee anything as far as the synthetic goes. I’m taking a little bit of a wait-and-see approach.”

Speedy Soul, by Souper Speedy
Last 3 Beyers: 79-64-63

◗ She had a troubled trip when sixth in her season opener in the six-furlong Star Shoot Stakes and then won the seven-furlong Fury Stakes. By the hot young speed sire Souper Speedy, she’s going long for the first time and hails from the family of Canadian champions Sky Classic and Dance Smartly.

Hastalavistababy, by Drosselmeyer
Last 3 Beyers: 77-72-70

◗ She was bought by Gary Barber and Team Valor International after her impressive maiden win on the grass here Sept. 28, after which she was beaten a head in the Ontario Lassie Stakes. She finished a close second again in her season opener in the Fury.

Preferred Guest, by Society’s Chairman
Last 3 Beyers: 71-56-68

◗ She defeated Ontario-sired opposition in the South Ocean Stakes in November and ran the race of her life most recently when second in the Selene.