Chiefswood Stables’ homebred Nipissing arrived at Keeneland
on Saturday with plans to begin her 2013 campaign in the 76th running of the
Grade 1, $500,000 Ashland on Saturday.
Nipissing is traveling the same road to the Ashland used
last year by another homebred Canadian filly, Hard Not to Like, who finished
second to Karlovy Vary in the 1 1/16-mile test.
Undefeated in four starts over the synthetic Polytrack at Woodbine last
year, Nipissing spent the winter at Payson Park Training Center in South Florida
after closing out her juvenile campaign with a four-length score in the South
Ocean on November 18.
“We gave her off six weeks at the end of last year and
started her back at the first of the year,” said trainer Rachel Halden, who took
Nipissing out for some light exercise through light rain and fog at Keeneland Sunday
morning.
“At Payson, you definitely get a lot more out of them than
at other places. That is also why I opted to stay there for her final breeze
rather than coming here for it,” Halden noted.
Nipissing worked five furlongs in 1:02 1/5 on Thursday,
her third five-eighths breeze of the month.
“I am very happy with where she is,” said Halden, a former
assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Roger Attfield. “This is not the ideal
starting point, but her options were very limited and she had run through her
conditions. With Woodbine opening later than usual this year, we needed to get
her a start as our main objective is the Woodbine Oaks.”
The Woodbine Oaks, the first leg of the Canadian Triple
Tiara, is scheduled for June 9 at 1 1/8 miles on Polytrack. Prior to that race,
sitting on May 3, is the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs.
“She is nominated to that,” admitted Halden, who has been
training on her own for six years and has three horses currently stabled at
Keeneland. “If she were to
jump up and win here, maybe it would be a consideration.”
Steve Bahen, who has been aboard Nipissing in her four starts, will have the
mount in the Ashland.
Magical Moon, third in last fall’s Grade 1 Alcibiades at Keeneland, worked a half-mile in :48
on Saturday over the Polytrack under exercise rider Heather
Craig in preparation for a probable run in the Ashland.
Grade 3 Rachel Alexandra fourth-placer Every Way, another possible Ashland
runner, turned five furlongs in
1:01 4/5 on Saturday. The chestnut daughter of City Zip is also under consideration for the
Grade 3, $100,000 Appalachian
to be run at a mile on the turf
on April 18.
Spring Venture, winner of
the Grade 3 Mazarine on Polytrack last fall at Woodbine and recent heroine of
the OBS Championship (filly division), covered four furlongs in
a bullet :48 1/5 on Sunday under exercise rider Jason Hoyte in preparation for
the Ashland.
Also working toward a possible Ashland run on Sunday were the top three
finishers from Tampa Bay Downs’ Grade 3 Florida Oaks on February 2.
Tapicat wired that 1 1/16-mile grass contest by 2 3/4 lengths, and on Sunday
recorded a four-furlong move in :48 on Payson Park’s fast dirt. Stakes diva
Kitten’s Dumplings, a rallying runner-up in the Florida Oaks, clocked a bullet
five furlongs in :59 4/5 on the fast dirt at Trackside Louisville, while
third-place runner Wave Theory logged a half-mile in :49 1/5 at Keeneland in company with
fellow sophomore filly Gustavia for trainer Chad Brown.
Spring in the Air, winner of last fall’s Grade 1 Alcibiades, is the marquee
name on Keeneland Racing Secretary Ben Huffman’s list of probable starters for
the Ashland. Trained by Mark Casse, Spring in the Air made her 2013 debut on
March 11 with a runner-up finish to stablemate Spring Venture in the OBS
Championship at Ocala, Florida.
The Alcibiades, inaugurated in 1952, is the marquee fall event for
two-year-old fillies at Keeneland. Only Doubledogdare (1955-56), Optimistic Gal
(1975-76), Silverbulletday (1998-99) and Take Charge Lady (2001-02) have come
back the following spring after their Alcibiades triumphs to win the Ashland,
with Optimistic Gal and Silverbulletday going on to win the Grade 1 Kentucky
Oaks after their Ashland victories.
Considered probable for the Ashland by Huffman are California Oaks queen
Redressthebalance and stakes vixen Tuttipaesi, who finished third in the Grade 3
Herecomesthebirde, as well as Adriani, Kyriaki and Liberty Girl.
Deemed as possible for the Ashland are stakes victress Finding More,
Herecomesthebride winner Kitten’s Point, romping Suncoast diva Manuka Honey,
Miss Lucky Sevens and Grade 1 heroine Pure Fun, who just finished third in the
Grade 3 Bourbonette Oaks on March 23.
Entries for the Ashland will be taken Wednesday.
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