Bessarabian Stakes: Analysis, Picks n' Plays
By: Nick Costa, Trackside with Trackman
Opened in 1985 as the Etobicoke Handicap, it was renamed in 1996 in honor of the granddaughter of the legendary Canadian champion, Northern Dancer, who won the 1964 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.
Bessarabian won eighteen of her thirty-seven starts and was voted the 1986 Sovereign Award for Champion Older Female Horse.
Last season, this race was won by Lady Speightspeare who finished third in this year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf.
Post time for the Bessarabian is slated for 4:55 E.T. and goes as race eight on the ten-race program.
Let’s look at the girls with their morning line odds from the rail out.
1 - Artie’s Princess – Jose Ortiz/Saffie Joseph – 5-2: Although this horse goes out for a trainer who isn’t Woodbine-based, she has made all but one of her 13 starts at Woodbine, winning 6 of her 7 victories here and the other coming over the all-weather in the G2 Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes in September. Has not started since then, but she won this race in 2020 coming in off a similar layoff pattern.
2- Sweet Enough – Emma-Jayne Wilson/Roger Attfield – 20-1: Bred in England, this filly had moderate success winning three straight handicap events on the turf before her form tailed off last fall. She was off-the-board in her only two races over the Lingfield track all-weather surface in Great Britain. She enters off a six-and-a-half-month respite following her lone effort of 2022 at Keeneland in the spring. Maybe the addition of Lasix can bring improvement.
3 - Hazelbrook – Jason Hoyte/Lorne Richards – 3-1: She has been a win machine and model of consistency for her barn, garnering four wins from five starts this season and has won six of nine overall. She’s only been out of the top three once. If she can repeat either one of her last two speed figures (Bris), that should get the mission accomplished.
4 – Lorena – Rafael Hernandez/Stuart Simon – 15-1: Has mostly raced against Ontario-bred competition or in restricted stakes, managing to capture half of her 10 all-weather starts, but it’s almost been a year since her last win on the Woodbine Tapeta. She comes into the contest having finished second last time out and winning two back, both sprinting on the turf, so she is in good form. It’s a matter if she can make the class jump successfully.
5 – Beyond Mybudget – Declan Carroll/Mark Casse – 8-1: With her 15 lifetime races, this mare is the most experienced of the group. She was off form earlier in the year at Fairgrounds and Turfway, but after about an eight-month break, she responded with a pair of runner-up finishes at Woodbine, including her last outing in the G3 Ontario Fashion Stakes. She may have “bounced” in the G3 Seaway following her strong comeback effort following the time off. Could improve further in this spot.
6 – Our Flash Drive – Patrick Husbands/Mark Casse – 7-2: After breaking her maiden in her third start third-out last year as a three-year old, she immediately became a dual surface Grade 3 winner after taking the Selene and Ontario Colleen stakes in consecutive tries. Her last race in the Ontario Matron stakes on the all-weather surface earned her the highest speed figure in the group and broke a streak of eight straight turf runs including a couple of efforts at Saratoga this summer where she won the restricted De La Rose stakes. This filly usually gives a good account of herself and the cutback in distance here should be a huge benefit.
7 – Awesome Treat – Jose Campos/Steve Attard – 20-1: Filly has had eight starts and three different trainers, including another go for trainer Attard who is hitting at a 20%-win clip and may have finally figured this one out by evidence of her big win last out, albeit in maiden optional claiming company. Maybe that’s the reason for the quick 14-day return. Attard also has a good winning percentage with horses making their second start off the layoff, but still, this placement appears to be a bit ambitious.
8 – Loyalty – Luis Contreras/Josie Carroll – 6-1: Her only bad outing was when she was sixth when trying the turf at Woodbine back in July. Otherwise, she’s won four of five lifetime starts. Is unbeaten on the synthetic stuff, including 3 for 3 at Woodbine. She’ll need to get faster though to win this.
9 – Allworthy - Kazushi Kimura/Saffie Joseph – 8-1: With her Woodbine visit, this young filly will be visiting her eighth different racetrack. She’s been strictly a dirt horse except for her last race which was a good third-place effort over the all-weather surface in the G2 Presque Isle Downs Masters. Has not raced since mid-September, but she has worked regularly and swiftly having posted a pair of bullet works in her preparation. Attracts the meets leading rider.
ANALYSIS
The Bris track bias at seven furlongs at Woodbine indicates that early speed types have fared best, not only at the meet, but especially the last week.
This field is predominately made up of speed and pace pressers, who the bias favors, so it comes down to who can work out the best trip and close strongly down the stretch.
Artie’s Princess gets the call here. She is a multiple Grade 2 winner and that gives her a class edge over the others and her speed figures give her a solid chance. She has displayed versatility with her running style and that makes her a dangerous threat because she can adapt to the race flow. In addition, having drawn the rail, she should get a ground saving trip with Irad Ortiz aboard. Don’t be alarmed by the eight-week gap, as mentioned above, she won this race two years ago following a similar rest period.
Hazelbrook is a two-time Grade 3 winner who is taking the next logical step up and she should be able to handle the assignment. Jockey Jason Hoyt has been aboard her throughout her career and they have been a dynamic duo. If something crazy happens on Saturday and the pace collapses, this one will be in a great spot to pick up the pieces. She is a strong win contender with or without a fast pace.
Loyalty is the lone three-year old who is lightly race and can be any kind. She has done what was asked of her in open stakes company on the all-weather and now it’s time to try the graded scene. Will need to get quicker in the speed figure department, but she is one who can land in the exotics.
Our Flash Drive is included in the net because of her last speed figure (Bris) which is tops in the field. She ran the same figure on the turf last year at Belmont and bettered it on grass at Woodbine in the Grade 2 Nassau Stakes back in July, so she CAN run that fast. She has faded in some of her longer distance races, so the cutback should help, and she did win her only start at seven panels.
WAGER:
$40 win on Artie’s Princess
$20 exacta box Artie’s Princess-Hazelbrook (Cost $40)
$1 Trifecta Wheel - Artie’s Princess and Hazelbrook in the top three spots with Loyalty and Flash Drive in the second and third slots. Add in Beyond Mybudget in the show spot
1-3/1-3-6-8/1-3-5-6-8 (Cost $18)
Good luck, and as always, enjoy the race!!
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