Wonder Gadot gives Tapeta a try in Mazarine Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Jockey Patrick Husbands and trainer Mark Casse have won the Grade 3 Mazarine Stakes six times apiece. They will team up in Saturday’s renewal of the 1 1/16-mile route for juvenile fillies with Wonder Gadot, who’s making her first Tapeta start in the $125,000 event at Woodbine.

Wonder Gadot made quite a splash on debut Aug. 26 in the seven-furlong allowance prep for the Natalma Stakes. After pressing the pace, she drew off in the stretch to prevail by four lengths in 1:21.96 over firm turf.

Wonder Gadot was the 2-1 favorite in the Grade 1 Natalma on Sept. 17. After a three-wide, stalking trip, she finished a close third under Husbands, who said he believes that she’s superior on the main track.

“I like her better on the” Tapeta, Husbands said. “The boss was [looking at] the Breeders’ Cup, so she had to run on the turf. She liked it, but to me, at this stage, she likes the [Tapeta] better. She’s very talented. She’ll be very tough.”

Just four others were entered in the Mazarine, which goes as race 8 on an expanded 11-race card.

KEY CONTENDERS

Wonder Gadot, by Medaglia d’Oro Beyers: 68-73

◗ The $325,000 2-year-old purchase is a full sister to Tropical Park Derby winner Solemn Tribute, who never competed on synthetic.

Shamrock Rose, by First Dude Beyer: 72

◗ This Casse trainee graduated impressively in the sixfurlong Ontario Debutante on the Tapeta on Sept. 9. The Pennsylvania-bred seems capable of stretching out effectively under leading rider Eurico Da Silva, who was aboard for that debut.

“She broke a little slow, but it was a good thing for her,” Da Silva said. “We sat off the speed, and then I had the opportunity to take her outside. I knew I had a lot of horse underneath me. When I asked her, she responded very well.”

Avie’s Mineshaft, by Mineshaft Beyers: 62-70

◗ In her seven-furlong opener Aug. 19, she wound up second behind the promising Dixie Moon, who came back to run second in the Natalma. She subsequently earned her diploma after a four-wide trip in a maiden special weight race going a mile and 70 yards on the main track. Her trainer, Josie Carroll, has won this event twice.

Oldfashioned Style, by Old Fashioned Beyers: 54-60-41

◗ Blinkers are added to the lone shipper in the lineup. She graduated second time out on dirt at Saratoga, then most recently finished a trailing seventh after a stalking trip in the P.G. Johnson Stakes on the grass there.