As expected, Biofuel dominated seven rival 3-year-old fillies in the $247,870 Selene Stakes (Can-III) with a two-length victory at Woodbine Sept. 26 (VIDEO).
It was the second grade III victory for Biofuel, who went off as the 3-10 favorite in the 1 1/16-mile test. She was clocked in a solid time of 1:43.36.
Brereton C. Jones' homebred daughter of Stormin Fever —Ms. Cornstalk, by Indian Charlie, has now won six of seven career starts over Woodbine's Polytrack for trainer Reade Baker.
Ridden by Eurico Da Silva, Biofuel broke a step slowly from her far outside post and trailed the field early. Barracks Road led a strung-out field by as many as five lengths down the backstretch while recording quick quarter-mile fractions of :24.06, :46.83 and 1:11.45. Biofuel launched her drive while racing on the outside on the final turn, drew close in the lane and flew home after taking the lead at the eighth pole to win easily.
"She was very relaxed today. I left her alone," said winning rider Eurico Rosa Da Silva. "The pace was pretty good today. On the first turn, I wasn't worried. I was very confident."
Kitty in a Tizzy, with Chantal Sutherland aboard, tried her best to stay with the winner and was a clear second by 6 3/4 lengths over second-choice Bubble Gum and James McAleney.
Biofuel was coming off a neck victory over older rivals in the Belle Mahone Stakes at Woodbine Aug. 22. She had run well over dirt tracks in two starts against 3-year-old fillies prior to that win, finishing third in Belmont Park's Mother Goose Stakes (gr. I) and second in the Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I) at Saratoga.
Her success on the main track doesn't mean Baker is sold on pointing Biofuel to the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic (gr. I) on Nov. 5 at Churchill Downs.
"It's going to be up to the owner," said Baker, before listing a few of the cast members set for a collision course in the Breeders' Cup. "Rachel Alexandra, Blind Luck, Zenyatta may even be there. I think that's too much of a task for a 3-year-old. As a 4-year-old, she would be perfect."
The bay filly won the Mazarine Stakes (Can-III) last fall when she was Canada's co-champion 2-year-old filly. That proceeded a strong late-running fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) at Santa Anita.
Biofuel, now unbeaten in four Woodbine stakes this season, earned $146,265 for her sixth lifetime win in 11 starts. She hiked her career total to $776,665.
Baker hinted that Biofuel, the heavy favorite to be name Canada's top 3-year-old filly in 2010, deserves Horse of the Year consideration as well.
"I don't think there's been a horse in Canada, in all categories, that has run better than her this year," Baker said.
The winner carried 117 pounds and paid $2.60, $2.20 and $2.10. Kitty in a Tizzy, second in Woodbine's Duchess Stakes last time out for trainer James Bond, returned $6 and $3.20 and completed a $15.10 exacta as an 11-1 shot. Bubble Gum, also saddled by Baker, was $3.10 to show in her stakes debut.
Barracks Road finished fourth, followed by Distorted Legacy, Redverse, Kayce Ace and Tizahit.
