Moonlit Promise seeks lost form

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – After going undefeated in three starts in 2017, Moonlit Promise will be looking to get back to the winner’s circle in Sunday’s Grade 3, $125,000 Seaway Stakes for fillies and mares over seven furlongs on Woodbine’s Tapeta.

Moonlit Promise won all three of her starts at Woodbine last season, including the Grade 2 Bessarabian Stakes at seven furlongs in November. So far in 2018, Moonlit Promise is winless in five starts. She suffered a narrow defeat to Let It Ride Mom in the Grade 3 Whimsical Stakes here on April 28, and was third to Code Warrior in the Grade 3 Hendrie Stakes here on June 10.

Most recently, Moonlit Promise finished sixth while stretching out around two turns in the Grade 3 Ontario Matron Stakes on July 15. Trainer Josie Carroll said the cutback in distance Sunday should benefit Moonlit Promise.

“I think she always shows up and tries hard,” she said. “She’s training very well and I’m looking forward to cutting back to her sprint distance.”

KEY CONTENDERS

Moonlit Promise, by Malibu Moon Last 3 Beyers: 85-83-85

◗ Moonlit Promise will break from the rail, and there doesn’t appear to be much early speed signed on. She could find herself forwardly placed and in a prime position turning for home.

◗ Carroll won this race last year with Ami’s Mesa.

Let It Ride Mom, by Into Mischief Last 3 Beyers: 89-86-85

◗ She won the Whimsical Stakes in her first start off a layoff, and has followed that with runner-up finishes in the Hendrie and Ontario Matron Stakes.

◗ She’s finished in the exactor in all eight of her starts on Woodbine’s synthetic. Code Warrior, by Society’s Chairman Last 3 Beyers: 76-88-80

◗ She’ll be looking to bounce back off a ninth-place finish in the Grade 2 Royal North Stakes on turf July 29.

◗ She could find herself on the early lead in this event. She set slow fractions en route to a gate-to-wire score in the Hendrie Stakes.

Corps de Ballet, by Speightstown Last 3 Beyers: 84-86-91

◗ She could show improvement while making her second start for trainer Roger Attfield after having finished a closing fifth in the Royal North.

◗ She’ll make her synthetic debut in this spot, and her work tab shows several quick breezes on the Tapeta.

Muskoka Wonder tries turf

Also on the card is the inaugural $100,000 Soaring Free Stakes, a six-furlong sprint on the turf for 2-year-olds.

Clarendon Stakes winner Muskoka Wonder seeks his second consecutive stakes score, and third straight victory overall, while making his turf debut in the Soaring Free. Muskoka Wonder is one of three horses in the field for trainer Mark Casse, who will also send out debut winner Saints Marching In and supplement Tricky Magician.

Steve Asmussen shipper Fluminense hasn’t raced since his impressive maiden victory on dirt at Churchill Downs on June 30, but the son of More Than Ready has been working on the turf at Saratoga and is among the key contenders.

Crawl From the Bar exits a runner-up finish in the Clarendon Stakes. Trained by Norm McKnight, Crawl From the Bar has made both of his starts in stakes. He ran third in the Victoria Stakes here in his career debut July 14.

Rounding out the field of six is Wallace, who finished fourth in the Victoria Stakes while making his Woodbine debut. He is trained by Sid Attard.

MICHAEL BURNS Moonlit Promise, who won all three of her starts in 2017, is winless in five starts this year.