Never a factor in the Alabama Stakes (gr. I) one month ago, Queen's Plate winner Inglorious gets back on Woodbine's Polytrack for the $250,000 Selene Stakes (Can-III) Sept. 25.
The million-dollar earner Inglorious, who also won the Woodbine Oaks this spring for Donver Stable and trainer Josie Carroll, will be seeking her first graded victory against five 3-year-old filly rivals in the 1 1/16-mile Selene. The race is the eighth on the Woodbine program with a 4:37 p.m. EDT post.
While Inglorious figures to be a standout, Carroll has also entered Achieving, a $1,475,000 weanling purchase at the 2008 Keeneland November breeding stock sale. She recently broke her maiden by three lengths at Woodbine in her third lifetime start.
Coming off a smashing 2 1/2-length triumph in the Queen's Plate where she defeated top Canadian-bred males in the nation's most famous race, Inglorious was 2-1 in Saratoga's Alabama, which is contested at the same 1 1/4-mile distance. But the Ontario-bred daughter of Hennessy broke a bit slowly in her third start on dirt and lagged throughout for jockey Luis Contreras to finish last in the field of six, 35 lengths behind the victorious Royal Delta.
Inglorious, teamed once again with leading Woodbine rider Contreras, is unbeaten in five starts on the Woodbine main track, all of her victories coming in stakes events. She breaks from post 3 with 117 pounds, two fewer than Anne's Beauty and Dynamic Holiday.
Achieving, in post 4, is a bay daughter of Bernardini out of the Storm Cat mare Teeming. She is owned by John Sikura's Hill 'N' Dale Equine Holdings, who bred her along with Edward McGhee, and partners James and Alice Sapara. Achieving's dam was the first foal out of 2007 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Better Than Honour and is from the family of back-to-back Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winners Jazil (2006) and champion Rags to Riches (2007). Hill ‘N’ Dale consigned her to the auction.
She began her career in January with a pair of starts at Fair Grounds, finishing fourth in in her debut and second in her subsequent try. Switched to Polytrack after getting a breather, she returned to action July 31 at Woodbine with a flair, sweeping to the lead at mid-stretch to win in a drive over seven rivals as the 4-5 choice. Contreras was also named to ride Achieving by Carroll.
Robert Smithen's Anne's Beauty returns to Polytrack after capturing Woodbine's one-mile Ontario Colleen Stakes (Can-IIIT) on turf in her most recent start Aug. 27. Trained by Paul Attard, the Kentucky-bred daughter of Artie Schiller has had plenty of success on Woodbine's Polytrack as well, winning the Duchess Stakes as the favorite July 30 and finishing second to Inglorious in the La Lorgnette Stakes in May. Patrick Husbands has the return mount and they will break from the rail.
Dynamic Holiday, trained by Graham Motion for owner and breeder Augustin Stable, comes off a third-place finish in Saratoga's Lake Placid Stakes (gr. IIT) on yielding turf Aug. 21. Winner of the Hercomesthebride Stakes (gr. IIIT) on the Gulfstream Park lawn in March, the Harlan's Holiday filly broke her maiden on Keeneland's Polytrack by a nose over Sassy's Dream last October.
Stronach Stables' homebred Smart Sting, second to Anne's Beauty in the Ontario Colleen, makes her synthetic track debut for trainer Roger Attfield. The daughter of Smart Strike seeks her first stakes victory.
Ms Silver Oak, an allowance winner at Monmouth Park July 2, completes the field.
$250,000 Selene Stakes (gr. III, Race 8, 4:37 p. m.), 3YO Fillies, 1 1/16 Miles (All Weather)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Anne's Beauty (KY), P Husbands, 119, P Attard
2. Smart Sting (KY), E R Da Silva, 115, R L Attfield
3. Inglorious (ON), L Contreras, 117, J Carroll
4. Achieving (KY), L Contreras, 115, J Carroll
5. Dynamic Holiday (PA), E S Prado, 119 H G Motion
6. Ms Silver Oak (KY), T Pizarro, 115, D J Vella