Inish Glora Holds Canadian Hope in Nassau

(from Woodbine report)
Robert Costigan's Inish Glora, last year's Sovereign Award winner as Canada's top female turfer, takes on a select group of five rivals, including stakes-winning shippers Ocean Drive and Dyna Da Wyna, Saturday at Woodbine in the featured $272,250 Nassau Stakes (Can-III).

The 1 1/16-mile event is contested over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course.

Inish Glora, a 6-year-old daughter of Regal Classic, enters the Nassau off a hard-fought win in a one-mile prep in her seasonal bow May 16. In it, she decisioned Classic Stamp, another Nassau starter, by a neck.

Under the allowance conditions of the added-money event, she'll carry top weight of 121 pounds with regular pilot Todd Kabel aboard.

Last year turned into a very profitable campaign for the Mac Benson-trained mare. She earned $359,667 while winning three of six starts, including stakes scores in the Victoriana and Canadian. She now sports career earnings of almost $600,000.

"It (the prep) was a good way to start it off, and I hope she improves off of that," said Benson. "A lot of Regal Classics improve with age. She had a black letter move (June 2, four furlongs in 47 4/5 seconds, breezing) and she did it easily. She's coming up to the race dynamite."

Sy and Bonnie Baskin's Ocean Drive, trained by Todd Pletcher, will command plenty of support as well. The 4-year-old daughter of Belong to Me most recently won the 1 1/16-mile Gallorette Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Pimlico Racetrack May 15, beating the highly regarded Film Maker. She's also been second twice and third once in her four 2004 starts. Rene Douglas rides the career earner of $399,136.

Winstar Farm's Dyna Da Wyna arrives from Keeneland, where she most recently captured the Stravinsky Stakes 5 1/2 furlongs on the lawn, April 17. Trained by Elliott Walden, the 4-year-old grey/roan filly will be handled by Robert Landry.

$272,250 Nassau Stakes (Can-III), fillies & mare 3 & up, 1 1/16 mile on turf
PP/Horse/Trainer/Jockey/Weight
1/Dyna Da Wyna/Elliott Walden/Robert Landry/117
2/First Quarter/Jim Day/Constant Montpellier/115
3/Classic Stamp/Cliff Hopmans/Patrick Husbands/119
4/Boana/Roger Attfield/Emile Ramsammy/115
5/Inish Glora/Mac Benson/Todd Kabel/121
6/Ocean Drive/Todd Pletcher/Rene Douglas/119