Ciuri tests speed in Duchess

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Off a fast restricted stakes score, Ciuri will move up in class against 10 other 3-year-old fillies in Saturday’s $100,000 Duchess Stakes going seven furlongs at Woodbine.

A front-runner trained by Robert Tiller, Ciuri won her first two races easily, an open six-furlong maiden special in April and an Ontario-sired allowance over the same distance in May. In her only loss, she was outrun for the lead before fading to third against nonwinners-of-three Ontario-sired allowance types June 7.

Ciuri got back on track most recently June 28 in the sevenfurlong Lady Angela Stakes, for Ontario-sired 3-year-old fillies. She set moderate fractions in a gutsy win over the favored Sav, earning an 80 Beyer Speed Figure.

“They’re going to be a little tough, and she’ll get tested,” Tiller said, regarding the Duchess. “She’s doing okay. There really is nowhere else to run her.”

Saturday’s 10-race card also includes the $125,000 Clarendon Stakes, a 5 1/2-furlong sprint that attracted just five Ontariobred 2-year-olds.

KEY CONTENDERS

Ciuri, by Souper Speedy Last 3 Beyers: 80-76-73

◗ The half-sister to graded stakes-winning turf sprinter Something Extra could face significant pace pressure from Winandyourin Gin.

Winandyourin Gin, by Into Mischief Last 3 Beyers: 75-74-55

◗ She wired maidens on the grass and allowance opposition over seven furlongs on the Tapeta in her two most recent races.

◗ Trainer Mark Casse won last year’s Duchess with Win the War.

Wings of Dawn, by Medaglia d’Oro Last 3 Beyers: 57-80-74

◗ Casse’s other contender, she came up empty last time in the Grade 2 Mother Goose on the dirt at Belmont. She won her two previous starts here, both going long on the Tapeta.

Fat N Bitter, by Old Fashioned Last 3 Beyers: 85-64-61

◗ She came from off a lively pace June 22 in a fast allowance victory off a bargain $25,000 claim by trainer Jamie Attard.

Intanga Rose, by Animal Kingdom Last 3 Beyers: 78-76-74

◗ Jamie Attard’s father, Sid, sends out this steady Stronach Stable runner, who’s turning back off a front-running third in the restricted Bison City Stakes.

La Feve, by George Vancouver Last 3 Beyers: 80-79-78

◗ The Maryland-based Graham Motion trainee is exiting a fourth in the 1 1/16-mile Open Mind Stakes on the grass at Monmouth.

Clarendon Stakes

Keep On Truckin should be favored in the Clarendon off his 11 3/4-length first-out triumph in a five-furlong dash for Ontario-sired maidens and $40,000 claimers July 7.

Forester’s Fortune could be the main threat. He finished third after bolting in both of his outings, most recently in the open Victoria Stakes.