Zensational Bunny continues to show fondness for Woodbine's Polytrack

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – After a couple of tough starts over the winter, a return to Woodbine appeared to suit Zensational Bunny well in last Saturday’s $144,000 Star Shoot Stakes, as she stalked the early pace and pounced in the stretch to win by 1 3/4 lengths over Paladin Bay.

“I was happy with [the race],” trainer Mark Casse said. “Her couple races this year, she’s had so many things go wrong, you don’t know how she’s going to react. We thought she trained well into the race, but not great, so I had some real concerns.”

Zensational Bunny, who’s undefeated in three starts over Woodbine’s Polytrack, rebounded nicely in the Star Shoot after a troubled seventh-place finish in the Grade 3 Bourbonette Oaks at Turfway Park on March 22.

Casse gave a lot of credit for Saturday’s win to jockey Patrick Husbands, who also rode Zensational Bunny in her last stakes triumph in the Glorious Song Stakes at Woodbine last November.

“Patrick understands her better than anybody,” he said. “Her work going into this race was just average, but she shows up in the afternoon, and her and Patrick make a great team.”

Casse had no firm plan for Zensational Bunny’s next start but has decided that she will remain at Woodbine for the time being