One for Rose has been a thorn in the side of her rivals throughout 2003. And that's just the way jockey Emile Ramsammy likes it.With the exception of an uncharacteristic sixth-place effort in August, One for Rose, the 2-1 morning line favorite who headlines Saturday's $175,000 Maple Leaf Stakes (Can-III) for fillies and mares at Woodbine, has been a fleet-footed force at the Toronto oval this year.The dark bay filly boasts four wins and two seconds from eight starts, along with an impressive $276,720 in purse earnings on the campaign, including a 9 ½-length triumph in the Algoma Stakes on Sept. 1. Her most recent effort was a 7 ¼-length scorcher on Oct. 11.Though she's running longer than she ever has before, the Ontario-bred is definitely the one to beat this weekend."This filly seems to be on the top of her game now," said Ramsammy, who recently won his 100th race on the season. "In her last race, she was impressive once again. She's stretching out to a 1 ¼ miles, but I think it's well within her range."The lifetime winner of six races from 12 starts, One for Rose Ramsammy says, "is a very versatile filly. "She can take the race as it comes along. If there is a need for speed, she can be the speed. If there's other 'speed' in there, she can come running. Right now, she's enjoying her game and she's loving it."
The Maple Leaf will be the Tucci Stables color-bearer's fourth career added-money event. The Sid Attard trainee has finished fourth in the Nassau, second in the Kamar and first in the Algoma.
Aside from the sixth-place finish over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course in the summer, One for Rose has never crossed the wire worse than fourth and has been either first or second in five of her past six starts.Impressive credentials for a 4-year-old who was a $13,000 yearling purchase in 2000. "Her last two races have been equally impressive," offered Ramsammy. "Hopefully, she can continue to do well. In the morning she can be a little tough, but in the afternoon she's just great." $175,000 Maple Leaf Stakes (Can-III), fillies & mares 3 & up, 1 1/4 mile
PP / Horse / Trainer / Jockey / Morning line odds
1 / Raylene / Rodney Haynes / Jim McAleney / 9-2
2 / Classic Stamp / Cliff Hopmans Jr. / Patrick Husbands / 6-1
3 / Tuff Chick / Roger Attfield / Richard Dos Ramos / 20-1
4 / American Skipper / Sean Smullen / Dino Luciani / 15-1
5 / Byzantine / Bruce Pollock / Jim McKnight / 20-1
6 / Clouds of Gold / Ken Parsley / Jono Jones / 10-1
7 / Royal Dalliance / Joanna Iglar-Hughes / David Clark / 10-1
8 / Rich Mist / Mike Doyle / Slade Callaghan / 20-1
9 / One for Rose / Sid Attard / Emile Ramsammy / 2-1
10 / Winning Chance / Dan Vella / Todd Kabel / 7-2