Woodbine: Spring Venture goes two turns on Polytrack in Mazarine Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Spring Venture, Woodbine’s leading 2-year-old filly, will test her skills around two turns on the Polytrack on Saturday at Woodbine in the Grade 3, $200,000 Mazarine Stakes.

Spring Venture won for fun when she debuted in a seven-furlong maiden special on the grass Aug. 18. A month later, she was favored in the Grade 2 Natalma Stakes, in which she closed from midpack to prevail while being geared down late by Patrick Husbands.

Spring Venture earned an 83 Beyer Speed Figure in the one-mile Natalma. The victory also came with a paid trip and an automatic berth into the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita Nov. 2.

Trainer Mark Casse said he has no reservations about trying Spring Venture on the Polytrack.

“We’ve always thought she’s equally as good, if not better, on the Poly compared to the turf,” Casse said. “I just ran her on the turf because the Natalma was coming up. She had trained tremendous on the Polytrack. One of the reasons that we bought her at OBS is because of how well she worked on the synthetic. She’s an exceptional horse.”

Casse also entered Floral Sky. She graduated first time out at Churchill in May and has been idle since ending up fifth there after a tough trip in the Grade 3 Debutante Stakes on June 23.

“She got in all kinds of trouble in her last start,” Casse said. “When she got up to Woodbine, she had gotten a little light. She grew taller and lighter, and we just gave her a little bit of a break. We’re just bringing her back. It’s a tall task for her right now, and depending on how the field looks like, I may end up scratching her.”

Among the others entered in the 1 1/16-mile Mazarine are Shenandoah Lady, Every Way, Anfield Park, and Jazzy Jane.

Shenandoah Lady graduated second time out on the Polytrack before ending up sixth after participating in a speed duel in the Natalma. This will be her first race with Lasix.

The Chicago shipper Every Way came wide to win her maiden at first asking traveling a mile on the grass at Arlington on Aug. 25. She has since worked quickly there on the Polytrack for trainer Mike Stidham, who’s had some success in Woodbine stakes.

Anfield Park and Jazzy Jane ran one-two in a mile and 70-yard maiden special here Sept. 2. Both are starting for the third time.

Completing the field are Seaneen Girl and Bwana Go Fast.