Distance spot-on for Ami’s Mesa

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The seven-furlong expert Ami’s Mesa will shorten up to that distance Saturday at Woodbine in the $125,000 Seaway Stakes for fillies and mares, and she should be favored under Luis Contreras.

A 4-year-old trained by Josie Carroll, Ami’s Mesa looked quite promising at 2, when she won her debut by eight lengths before doubling up in the sevenfurlong Glorious Song Stakes. She competed just three times last year, however, with her best finish being a second in a second-level optional claimer.

Following a six-month break, Ami’s Mesa cleared the second allowance condition by three lengths in a seven-furlong optional claimer June 30, earning

an 88 Beyer Speed Figure. She struck again in her first 1 1/16-mile start, winning the Grade 3 Ontario Matron on July 22 with a career-high 89 Beyer.

“She’s excelled at this distance,” Carroll said of Saturday’s seven furlongs. “With this race coming up, it seemed like a good spot to put her back. We always thought really highly of her, but she had some issues come up that we had to deal with. She appears to be back in as good of order that she can be.”

Carroll also entered Salty Breeze and Gliding By in the Grade 3 Seaway, which goes as race eight on an 11-race program.

KEY CONTENDERS

Ami’s Mesa, by Sky Mesa Last 3 Beyers: 89-88-65

◗ Over the past five years, Carroll is 2 for 5 with turnbacks in graded stakes. Two of them ran in the Seaway off a layoff – victorious Leigh Court in 2014 and last year’s runner-up, Elusive Collection.

Salty Breeze, by Stormy Atlantic Last 3 Beyers: 50-81-79

◗ was in good form on the main track before coming up empty in the Grade 3 Royal North Stakes over six furlongs on the grass July 29.

“That last race was just too short on the turf for her,” Carroll said. “I think she’s better than what you saw, and she really likes the Tapeta surface.”

Gliding By, by Artie Schiller Last 3 Beyers: 84-78-78

◗ Her July 16 allowance score going seven-eighths on the grass followed two straight seconds at the same optionalclaiming level on the Tapeta.

“She seems to be on the improve,” Carroll said.

Tulsa Queen, by Cactus Ridge Last 3 Beyers: 81-83-72

◗ The lone 3-year-old in the field, she is meeting older stakes opposition for the first time off a third in a one-mile restricted stakes at her Presque Isle base. Trained by Ryan Walsh, she captured the seven-furlong Duchess Stakes here the time before.