Code Warrior takes on Ami’s Mesa

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Code Warrior finished seventh in her most recent start in the Grade 2 Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes on Sept. 17, and will look to rebound on her home track in Sunday’s Grade 3, $125,000 Ontario Fashion Stakes for fillies and mares at Woodbine. Among her rivals in the sixfurlong race on the Tapeta is Ami’s Mesa, last year’s Canadian champion older female and female sprinter.

Code Warrior has won two Grade 3 events on the Woodbine Tapeta this year, capturing the Grade 3 Hendrie Stakes in June, along with the Grade 3 Seaway Stakes two starts back on Aug. 26.

Coming off a career-best 94 Beyer Speed Figure in her Seaway victory, Code Warrior set a quick pace while carrying 125 pounds in the Presque Isle Downs Masters and finished six lengths behind winner Hotshot Anna.

“Last time, we were on the lead and set some pretty fast fractions and she had just run the fastest she’d ever run in her life,” trainer Mike De Paulo said. “We had to ship her and she gave up some weight to some of those horses, so there were a bit of difficult circumstances around that race.”

Code Warrior is the 121-pound highweight in the Ontario Fashion.

KEY CONTENDERS

Code Warrior, by Society’s Chairman Last 3 Beyers: 84-94-76

◗ De Paulo said Code Warrior has been training well on Woodbine’s Tapeta surface. Her last two five-furlong breezes have been under a minute. “She’s on her home ground now and she’s had a couple good works and is doing good,” he said. “She’s had a little break, a little freshening, and hopefully we can get lucky.”

Ami’s Mesa, by Sky Mesa Last 3 Beyers: 84-92-94

◗ She will be looking to get back to the top form she showed during her 2017 campaign when she won four of her five starts, including three graded stakes, and was beaten by a nose in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Santa Anita last November.

◗ She made her second start of the year, and first start since April, in the Presque Isle Downs Masters, finishing eighth.

Moonlit Promise, by Malibu Moon Last 3 Beyers: 84-82-85

◗ She recorded her first victory of the season with a half-length score over Malibu Bonnie in the Sweet Briar Too Stakes on Sept. 15.

◗ Eurico Da Silva took over in the saddle for Gary Boulanger in the Sweet Briar Too and retains the mount for the Ontario Fashion.

Jessica Krupnick, by Uncle Mo Last 3 Beyers: 82-82-86

◗ She’ll make her first start for leading trainer Norm McKnight off a runner-up finish in the Roamin Rachael Stakes at Parx on Sept. 15.

◗ While the majority of her races have come on dirt, she has run on synthetic twice, finishing fourth in the Grade 3 Whimsical Stakes here in April and finishing third in the Satin N Lace Stakes at Presque Isle Downs in August behind Hotshot Anna, who came back to win the Presque Isle Downs Masters.