Woodbine: Tu Endie Wei learns her lesson

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Tu Endie Wei had a bad experience suffering her first defeat in Keeneland’s Alcibiades, as she became agitated by a large and noisy crowd in the paddock and left her race in the starting gate. So her trainer, Reade Baker, took Tu Endie Wei back to school and the Kentucky-bred 2-year-old filly responded with a smashing victory under regular rider Jim McAleney in Sunday’s $152,100 Glorious Song Stakes.

“It was opening day at Keeneland, and I didn’t have a chance to school her there,” said Baker, who trains the homebred Tu Endie Wei for owner Brereton C. Jones. “When I got her back here, and went to school her in the gate, I didn’t think she was going to be too bad. But the first two times, she was terrible. I schooled her twice more this week, and she was better.”

Tu Endie Wei responded with a top-of-the-class performance in the Glorious Song, as she set the early pace and drew off under a hand ride to score by 4 3/4 lengths.

Her rapid 1:21.97 clocking for the seven furlongs yielded a Beyer Speed Figure of 82.

“I thought she was pretty awesome,” said Baker. “When she made the lead, she was running easy. Nobody was pressing her.”

It was Tu Endie Wei’s third victory in as many local appearances, following her win in the five-furlong My Dear after breaking from post 13 in her debut, and then success in the 6 1/2-furlong Ontario Debutante seven weeks later.

“Every trip’s been different,” said Baker. “The first time she was on the outside, coming from far back. The second time, Jimmy took her just back and she went around another horse.

Tu Endie Wei, a half-sister to the reigning Canadian horse of the year and champion 3-year-old filly, Biofuel, will wind up her first campaign with a 3-for-4 record and earnings of $271,000.

The tentative plan calls for Tu Endie Wei to get a break at her owner’s Airdrie Stud in Kentucky and then join Baker at Palm Meadows in Florida early in the New Year.

“I’d like to get one start into her at Keeneland, then bring her home,” said Baker. “There’s plenty for her here.”