Smartyfly Leads Fillies into the Carotene

Seven Ontario-bred fillies are entered on Saturday at Woodbine for the $150,000 Carotene Stakes, going 1 1/8 miles on the EP Taylor Turf course. Assigned co-high weight of 119 pounds for the race are the Scott Farlie-trained Professor’s Ride, and Smartyfly, out of the stable of Malcom Pierce, who has two entries in the event. All other fillies will carry 115 pounds.  The Carotene will go as race 8 of 10 on the Woodbine Saturday afternoon card. Coming off a turf win in the 1 1/4 miles Wonder Where Stakes, Smartyfly has been made the 4-5 morning line favorite.

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Favorite shows speed on the grass 

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Based on her most recent, it appears Smartyfly prefers to run on the grass, and shows best when she is able to get to the front. Without a lot of other early speed in the race she just might get her way, and with the cut back in distance is probably deserving of her favorite status. Another who will likely try to clear the field early is 10-1 Blessed One, who has only two starts to her name, but showed solid improvement last time out leading throughout to break her maiden at one mile after moving to turf.

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Professor's Ride looking for a stalking trip

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Breaking inside of Smartyfly from the number 1 post will be Professor’s Ride (6-1), who also won last time out going one mile on the turf in the La Prevoyante Stakes, but who has had an erratic season to date, having hit the board in four of seven starts, but also being well beaten twice in middle-allowance company. The other Pierce runner, Dance Again (5-2), started her season in the States, and showed enough good results that she earned a spot in the Woodbine Oaks, finishing fifth, one spot behind Smartyfly.  For her, the distance is the question.

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