Blonde Executive, Cut and Shoot Win Woodbine Prep Stakes

Bruno Brothers Farms' Blonde Executive certainly stated her case as one of the top 3-year-old sprinting fillies on the Woodbine grounds with a highlight performance Saturday in the $133,250 Lady Angela Stakes at Woodbine.

With Richard Dos Ramos aboard, Blonde Executive, a chestnut daughter of Bold Executive, was hustled immediately out of the one-hole to the front and made every pole a winning one, clicking off fractions of :22.42 for the quarter, :44.91 for the half. After turning for home, Blonde Executive coasted to the wire, a 6 1/4-length winner in 1:22.97 for the seven-furlong affair.

My Vintage Port, last year's Sovereign Award-winning 2-year-old filly, came on to be second while carrying top weight of 123 pounds, an effort which probably will send her to the Oaks for trainer Ken Parsley. Longshot Ashlee's Bella wound up third.

"To be honest with you, I didn't realize she was going that quickly," said Dos Ramos. "We weren't quite sure how she would get the seven-eighths, but there was no doubt in my mind at the head of the lane that she was going to finish very strongly and she did."

It was her second win in as many starts this year, after an extremely productive 2003 season when she won three of seven starts, including the Victorian Queen Stakes, on her way to earning $196,328. In her only previous try at seven furlongs, Blonde Executive faded to fourth behind Silver Bird in last November's Glorious Song, the final start of her juvenile campaign.

The $500,000, 1 1/8-mile Labatt Woodbine Oaks, the premier event for Canadian-foaled 3-year-old fillies, is scheduled for June 13 at the Toronto oval. Early favorites include Nashinda and Eye of the Sphynx.

Winning trainer Radlie Loney noted, "She's super. She was so awesome I can't believe it. Right now, we'll have to talk it over with the owners, see what they decide (regarding the Oaks). I don't know if she'll go that far, but judging how she ran today, she could be a serious threat."

Sent postward the 3-5 choice, Blonde Executive added $79,950 to her burgeoning bankroll, which now stands at $318,278. She paid $3.30, $2.70 and $2.40, combining with My Vintage Port ($3.70, $2.80) for a $16.60 exacta. Ashlee's Bella ($4.00) completed a $133.40 exacta.

(Chart, Equibase)

Elsewhere on the Woodbine card, Stonerside Stable's Cut and Shoot kept his unblemished record intact with a facile triumph in the $106,000 Afleet Stakes.

With Patrick Husbands aboard the Ontario-bred 3-year-old son of American Chance, Cut and Shoot toyed with his five rivals, cruising past pacesetter Imperial Alydeed in early stretch and going on to a 2 3/4-length score in 1:10.20 for the six furlong distance. Langburg was a further six lengths back in third.
Trained by Mark Casse, the prohibitive 1-5 favorite is now a perfect three-for-three, after a romping maiden win last August, then a season opening allowance tally here on May 1.

"He's a beautiful horse," said Casse, of the colt that was purchased for $85,000 (U.S.) at the 2002 Keeneland September yearling sale. "I said to my friend (in the paddock), 'That's what a racehorse looks like.' He's a pretty horse."

Casse said they would probably not pursue the Queen's Plate, preferring to give Cut and Shoot more time to develop.

"We're going to try the Achievement (July 1 at Woodbine) next and if all goes well, maybe the King's Bishop at Saratoga. So we're just going to keep him sprinting right now. I wanted to give him plenty of time to get over his first race (of the year)."

Cut and Shoot, who earned $63,600 for the victory, improving his career bankroll to $136,920, returned $2.50, $2.10 and $2.10 across the board, combining with Imperial Alydeed ($2.80, $2.40) for a $5.40 exacta. Langburg ($2.90) completed a trifecta worth $16.

(Chart, Equibase)