Alnilah seeks another Grade 3

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Patrick Husbands was lucky to stay on Alnilah after a mishap at the break in the Seaway Stakes, and that she went on to win the race going away was remarkable. Alnilah will try to land her second straight Grade 3 stakes at Woodbine in Saturday’s $125,000 Ontario Fashion.

In the Aug. 25 Seaway, she made her first start for trainer Terry Jordan, who also trained her dam, Tribal Belle, the winner of the 2009 Fashion. Both are owned by Canvasback Farms.

Alnilah came from a trailing seventh in the sevenfurlong Seaway to prevail by 4 ½ lengths over the favored Summer Sunday.

“She was rearing up in the gate, and [Husbands] was basically off of her,” Jordan recalled. “They let them go, and he was scrambling to get back on. He got back on, and she made a righthand turn leaving the gate, but he stayed with her and ended up successful. She ran real big.”

Alnilah was a front-runner during her formative years, and her prowess from off the pace was on display in the Seaway, but Jordan said her running style is not etched in stone.

“I just leave it up to Patrick,” Jordan said. “He wanted to ride her, so I said, ‘You want to ride her, you’re welcome to.’ He took off the other horse he won the last stake on to ride her again. He must think quite a bit of her.”

Five other fillies and mares were entered in the six-furlong Fashion, which is carded as the third of 10 races.

KEY CONTENDERS

Alnilah, by Smart Strike Last 3 Beyers: 92-79-89

◗ She has worked sporadically since the Seaway, including a half in 47.80 on Oct. 2.

“We just train her easy,” Jordan said. “That’s why you don’t see many works on her. She likes to just gallop a lot.”

Summer Sunday, by Silent Name Last 3 Beyers: 82-93-93

◗ She lost for the first time in eight starts at Woodbine in the Seaway. After wintering in Florida with trainer Stu Simon, she finished up the track in a third-level optional claimer at Keeneland. She then reeled off three consecutive stakes victories here, in the restricted Ballade, the Grade 3 Hendrie, and the Grade 2 Royal North.

◗ Normally a front-runner, she could have Jean Elizabeth to contend with early.

◗ She makes her first start without Lasix since she was 2.

Jean Elizabeth, by Adios Charlie Last 3 Beyers: 85-79-83

◗ The speedy Chicago shipper outran Sister Peacock for the lead and kept on going to win the 6 ½-furlong Sweet Briar Too Stakes here Sept. 21.

◗ Eurico Da Silva inherits the mount from Husbands on the Larry Rivelli-trained 4-yearold.