Roxy Gap, a three-time graded stakes winner at Woodbine this season, is the 124-pound high weight in a field of five entered for the $150,000 Seaway Stakes (Can-III) Sept. 1 at the Toronto track.
No worse than second in her past five performances, Roxy Gap is coming off a half-length score in the Royal North Stakes (Can-IIIT) on turf July 29. Eugene Melnyk's 4-year-old Ontario homebred by Indian Charlie won both the Whimsical (Can-III) and Hendrie (Can-II) stakes on Polytrack this spring. The Mark Casse-trained bay filly owns seven wins and three seconds in 11 lifetime starts at Woodbine.
The Seaway is contested at seven furlongs on Polytrack. The last-time the Roxy Gap faced those conditions, in the Sweet Briar Too Stakes July 7, she was upset when second at odds of 2-5 by Man Stuff. Roxy Gap, who drew post 2, will be piloted once again by Patrck Husbands.
The race is the eighth on the Saturday card with a 4:51 p.m. EDT post.
Roxy Gap's biggest obstacle appears to be Brereton C. Jones' homebred Tu Endie Wei, who returns to her favorite track after a last-place finish in the Prioress Stakes (gr. I) Aug. 4 at Saratoga Race Course.
Trained by Reade Baker, the 3-year-old daughter of Johar has four wins and a second in five attempts over Woodbine's Polytrack, including a 5 1/2-length romp in the Star Shoot Stakes in her first start of the year April 14. Jim McAleney, who has ridden Tu Endie Wei in all of her Canadian starts, regains the mount. The bay filly, facing older horses for the first time, breaks from the rail in the Seaway.
Jenny's So Great, third last time in the Royal North, attempts to break a six-race losing streak in 2012 for trainer Gregory de Gannes and owners Bill and Vicki Poston.
Trainer Todd Pletcher invades with Blue Heaven Farms' Zermatt, third in a Shakespeare Caress Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs on grass at Saratoga July 30. The 5-year-old Tiznow mare won a high-rice allowance/optional claiming event going six furlongs on Polytrack by a neck at Keeneland April 27.
Gold Dust Lady, with just one win from 16 races over the past two seasons, completes the field.
$150,000 Seaway Stakes (Can-III, Race 8, 4:51 p.m.), Fillies & Mares 3 & Up, 7 Furlongs (All Weather)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Tu Endie Wei (KY), J McAleney, 115, R Baker
2. Roxy Gap (ON), P Husbands, 124, M E Casse
3. Zermatt (KY), E Wilson, 117, T A Pletcher
4. Gold Dust Lady (KY), T Kabel, 117, W Wilcox
5. Jenny's So Great (ON), L Contreras, 117, G de Gannes
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