Quidura escapes the big girls

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Coming off a narrow loss to the imposing Lady Eli, Quidura will venture north of the border from her Maryland base for Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Canadian Stakes on the Woodbine Mile undercard.

Quidura has been a model of consistency since Graham Motion began training the English-bred 4-year-old last year. She won the Grade 3 Valley View at Keeneland in October and finished third off a six-month layoff there April 15 in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley.

Quidura ran second to Hawksmoor in the Grade 2 New York on June 9 at Belmont. She has been idle since July 22, when she set the pace and lost the Grade 1 Diana by a head to Lady Eli.

“It was kind of an odd race in the Diana, when she ended up on the lead,” Motion said. “That wasn’t necessarily the plan, but she almost pulled it off. She got a break in the weights that day against Lady Eli.”

The Canadian will be run in lane 1 over about 1 1/8 miles. The race is the first leg of a 20-cent all-turf Belmont-Woodbine pick five that includes four graded stakes races.

KEY CONTENDERS

Quidura, by Dubawi Last 3 Beyers: 102-100-97

◗ Motion said he’s aiming her toward the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Del Mar. He said the Canadian is a better option than the Grade 1 Flower Bowl on Oct. 8 at Belmont, run at 1 1/4 miles.

“I really like to spread her races out,” Motion said. “I think she really benefits from the time between races. She’s kind of a slight filly who doesn’t take a lot of training.”

Starship Jubilee, by Indy Wind Last 3 Beyers: 92-95-94

◗ She dead-heated for first with last year’s Canadian winner, Rainha Da Bateria, in her penultimate race, going 1 1/8 miles in the Grade 2 Dance Smartly. Last time, after dueling through soft fractions, she faded to fifth traveling 1 3/8 miles against the boys in the Grade 2 Sky Classic.

Elysea’s World, by Champs Elysees Last 3 Beyers: 90-87-89

◗ She finished a close fourth last time in the restricted De La Rose Stakes at Saratoga.

◗ Her trainer, Chad Brown, ran one-two in last year’s Canadian with Rainha Da Bateria and Dacita.

Involuntary, by City Zip Last 3 Beyers: 91-94-88

◗ She won the $100,000 Flaming Page Stakes over about 1 1/2 miles in her last outing.

Southern Gem, by Smart Strike Last 3 Beyers: 81-84-82

◗ She was rank and faded to fifth in her last start, which came in the Grade 2 Nassau here May 27. Trainer Sid Attard said appropriate races for her have failed to fill, so he’s taking a shot in the Canadian.

“She looks great,” Attard said. “She’s put on a lot of weight.”