Imagery drops out of stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Imagery drops from a stakes to a second-level allowance with a $62,500-$60,000 claiming option in Saturday’s Woodbine headliner for fillies and mares going six furlongs.

Imagery was claimed for $40,000 last October by trainer Vito Armata for Eight Star Racing Stable. She returned immediate dividends by winning a first-level allowance Nov. 13, and then closed her campaign with a troubled third in a second-level allowance.

Imagery was dismissed at 16-1 on April 16 in the opening-day Long Branch Stakes, her first start in 4 1/2 months. After getting away slowly in the 5 1/2-furlong sprint, she raced wide throughout and finished a non-threatening fourth behind some salty opposition. Thirdplace finisher Our Secret Agent subsequently won the Grade 3 Whimsical while running the race of her life.

Imagery breezed a half-mile last Saturday in a sizzling 46 seconds, which was the fastest of 91 works at the distance. Antonio Gallardo has the mount on the 4-year-old on Saturday. He was aboard for her last victory.

Spanish Ballerina figures to lead the way under David Moran, but she hasn’t found the mark since her productive 2020 season. She stalked the pace along the inside before backing up to third in her five-furlong comeback on April 23, a race she probably needed.

Mademoiselle Nova has been idle since ending up seventh in the Tropical Park Oaks on Dec. 26 at Gulfstream, where she nearly won a minor stakes around two turns on the Tapeta in November. Six furlongs seems on the short side for her, but she’s being reunited with jockey Rafael Hernandez, who was up for both of her triumphs here last year, both on the inner turf. Her trainer, Mark Casse, has won at a 16 percent clip with 61- to 180-day layoff types at Woodbine over the past five years, with a return on investment of $1.71.

Owen’s Tour Guide got away slowly before racing wide over an inside-biased track when fourth behind Spanish Ballerina on April 23. She’s unbeaten in two starts on turf, but is no slouch on the Tapeta when she’s on her game. She has the look of a live longshot.

Golden Vision had a fruitful 2021 campaign that included an upset score here in the six-furlong Ballade Stakes for Ontario-sired females. She was a respectable third the last time she saw action, in the 1 1/16-mile La Prevoyante Stakes here Dec. 4. She competes with a $62,500 tag on Saturday with leading rider Kazushi Kimura aboard for the first time.

Jilli Marie wintered in South Carolina. After going 2 for 2 in 2020, she went 1 for 6 last year with second- or third-place finishes in three restricted stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

Rounding out the field are Ballyjane, Amalfi Sky, and Hello Friends. All three are in with a chance in the wide-open event.