Amalfi Coast back on short rest

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Kevin Attard sends out contenders in both of Woodbine’s Saturday stakes, including favored Amalfi Coast in the Grade 3, $150,000 Hendrie going 6 1/2 furlongs for fillies and mares.

Amalfi Coast is the leading candidate for champion female sprinter honors in Canada this year. The versatile 5-year-old took the Grade 2 Royal North on the grass in her second start off the bench Aug. 1. After a troubled third in the Grade 3 Seaway three weeks later, she won the Grade 3 Ontario Fashion on the Tapeta on Oct. 3.

Attard said the timing of the Hendrie isn’t as good as it was when Amalfi Coast had six weeks off heading into the Fashion.

“It’s not ideal,” Attard admitted. “She’s obviously run better with a little space in between. I haven’t been as aggressive with her training heading up to this race, hoping we can freshen her a little bit and get her a little sharper because of the quicker turnaround. She’s doing really well. If she wasn’t, we wouldn’t be running her.”

Owned by Terra Racing Stable, Amalfi Coast is entered in the Keeneland November breeding stock sale. Attard said it will be sad to see the barn favorite leave his shed row.

“She’s an honest mare,” Attard said. “She’s a sweetheart around the barn. She goes out there and gives it her all any time she runs. You always get a soft spot for those types.”

Attard also entered Toffen, who was victorious in her last race in a conditioned allowance on the grass.

Completing the Hendrie field are Our Secret Agent, Betwixting, Fiduciary, and supplement La Libertee.

Princess Elizabeth Stakes

Attard saddles Souper Flashy and Moira in the 76th running of the $250,000 Princess Elizabeth Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile route for Canadian-bred 2-year-old fillies.

Souper Flashy blew the break before closing from 11th to land her Sept. 19 debut in a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for Ontariosired and $40,000 maidens.

“When she broke like she did and was as far back as she was, I wasn’t really expecting much out of that race,” Attard said. “The next thing you know, she’s picking up horses going up the inside. It was real professional and pretty impressive. We’re hoping that she takes another step forward. This is a two-turn race. It’s obviously a different ball game, but she’s trained well in the interim.”

Moira makes her first start on Saturday. She was a $150,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase. The daughter of Ghostzapper posted five straight five-furlong works on the Tapeta leading up to this engagement.

“I really like her a lot,” Attard said. “She’s a very nice horse. This is obviously a tall task, but I think she’s up to it.”

Trainer Mark Casse sends out four in the 10-horse field – Mo Touring, Into Touring, Lois Len, and Baksheesh.

Baksheesh graduated two starts ago in the $201,600 Muskoka Stakes, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for graduates of Canadian yearling sales. Most recently, she finished far back in eighth after getting away slowly in the Grade 1 Natalma on turf.