Atlantic Hurricane won last year's Bessarabian Stakes (Can-III) at Woodbine on her way to a Sovereign Award as Canada's best female sprinter.The 5-year-old Halo's Image mare is back for another try as she takes on 10 others in the $150,000 race.
The Bessarabian, at seven furlongs for distaffers 3 and up, is scheduled as the 8th race on the Nov. 24 Saturday card with a post time of 4:41 p.m.
Atlantic Hurricane seems to be on right track going into the Bessarabian. She won last year's Ontario Fashion Stakes prior to the Bessarabian and heads into this year's running with another victory in the Ontario Fashion, which picked up grade III status this year. Trained by Stuart Simon, Atlantic Hurricane will get the return services of jockey Luis Contreras.
Roxy Gap, by Indian Charlie, will tote top weight of 124 pounds in the Bessarabian, giving Atlantic Hurricane five pounds and the others from three to nine pounds. Roxy Gap, who finished third in the Ontario Fashion last time out, is the heavyweight by stakes wins this year, scoring in the Hendrie Stakes (Can-II), the Royal North Stakes (Can-IIIT), and the Whimsical Stakes (Can-III). Jockey Patrick Husbands will be aboard again for trainer Mark Casse.
Trainer Malcolm Pierce figures to have strength in numbers. He will send out Forest Uproar, Miss Inclined, and Magic Broomstick, with the last-named being the most successful this year. By More Than Ready , Magic Broomstick has been out twice and sports wins in the Avowal Stakes and the River Memories Stakes, both at Woodbine this fall.
Miss Inclined, by Pulpit, won an allowance optional claimer two races back but is winless in three stakes tries this year. Forest Uproar, by Forest Wildcat, is winless this year in five starts including four stakes.
Pierce has named jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson on both Forest Uproar and Magic Broomstick, and Jermaine Bridgmohan on Miss Inclined.
Stars to Shine and Moment of Majesty also are two-time stakes winners this year. Stars to Shine, by Tale of the Cat , has won the Ontario Matron Stakes (Can-III) and the Trillium Stakes. Moment of Majesty, by Saint Liam, has scored in the Belle Mahone Stakes and Zadracarta Stakes (on grass).
Actionontwo (by Artie Schiller), Her Smile (by Include ), Silent Serenity (by Silent Name ), and Wyomia (by Vindication) complete the field.
$150,000 Bessarabian Stakes (Can-III, Race 8, 4:41 p.m.) Fillies & Mares 3 & Up, 7 Furlongs (All Weather)
PP, Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Moment of Majesty, G Olguin, 121, S Leslie
2. Actionontwo, E R Da Silva, 116, M J Doyle
3. Atlantic Hurricane, L Contreras, 119, S C Simon
4. Stars to Shine, T Kabel, 121, M R Frosted
5. Silent Majority, J McAleney, 118, R E Lafond
6. Miss Inclined, J V Bridgmohan, 117, M Pierce
7. Forest Uproar, E Wilson, 115, M Pierce
8. Magic Broomstick, E Wilson, 121, M Pierce
9. Wyomia, J Stein, 115, D J Vella
10. Roxy Gap, P Husbands, 124, M E Casse
11. Her Smile, J M Campbell, 115, S Smullen
