Eye of the Sphynx, a leading Labatt Woodbine Oaks prospect recently supplemented to the Queen's Plate as well, heads the $250,000-added Selene Stakes (Can-II) for 3-year-old fillies at Woodbine Sunday.
Trained by Mark Frostad for Sam-Son Farms, the homebred daughter of
Smart Strike is unbeaten in two starts, but she belied her inexperience with a 3 1/4-lengths victory in her last start, the Fury Stakes at Woodbine March 9.
The Ontario bred started her career with a three-length win at Keeneland. She has earned $123,340 in her brief career.
"She looks like she's going to be a pretty nice filly," said the Frostad, a veteran conditioner of 15 years. "Everything we see so far is good. You have to watch her because she's pretty rambunctious. She seems to have more tactical speed than (her 3-year-old male stablemate) Burst of Fire and is more tuned in to running. When a horse hooks her, she wants to go."
While the Oaks was the original target for Eye of the Sphynx, a date in the Plate could be in store for her.
"At this point, the Plate is a wide-open affair," said Frostad, who has saddled a Sovereign Award winner in each Thoroughbred season since 1994. "At the same time, if she's a really, really good filly, I don't know about going that (Plate) route. We'll have to play it by ear. If she canters in the Oaks, we might have to take a look at it."
In the Fury, Eye of the Sphynx, who has yet to run farther than seven furlongs, defeated Selene Stakes foes Silver Bird and My Vintage Point.
My Vintage Point, third in the Fury and nearly 10 lengths behind the winner, has lost both of her starts in 2004. She won at 1 1/16 miles, the Selene distance, in both the Princess Elizabeth Stakes and South Ocean Stakes last year. My Vintage Point, last year's Sovereign winner in the 2-year-old filly division, carries top weight of 123 pounds. She'll spot her six rivals between five and seven pounds.
Silver Bird, owned by James McAlpine, won three of five starts last year, including the Glorious Song Stakes at Woodbine in November.
$250,000-added Selene Stakes (Can-II), 3-year-old fillies, 1 1/16 milePP. Horse, Jockey, Weight
1. My Vintage Port, Jono Jones, 123
2. Charming Proposal, Robert Landry, 116
3. Silver Bird, James McAleney, 118
4. Sweet Problem, David Clark, 116
5. Ontheqt, James McAleney, 118
6. Pandora's Secret, Dino Luciani, 116
7. Eye of the Sphynx, Todd Kabel, 118
