70th Woodbine Oaks

Sunday's $500,000 Woodbine Oaks is the top race for Canadian bred 3-year-old fillies and since the race is at 1 1/8 miles (and only one of the 12 starters has tried the distance) finding the filly who can win at the extended trip is the key.

Mike Burns Photo

Running Style, Race Set Up

The first look at the field for this year's Oaks tells us that many of these fillies have done their best running on the pace or have previously shown they prefer shorter distances.

That could certainly set the race up for a horse coming from off the pace.

Horses such as War Signal (two wins, both with clear leads all the way), Nata Trouble (short distance specialist), Ella It Is (broke maiden setting very slow pace) and Winterberry (fast front runner) will be challenged by the contested early pace and distance.

Two other Casse fillies, SHIFTY and NO TIME, are good on their best day although both have only won races when they have been clear on the pace. The former, who was third against the boys in the Grade 3 Grey Stakes last year, had a dreadful trip in the Princess Elizabeth last fall when taken back off a very slow pace. She was a big winner with a big Beyer Figure (85) in her season debut at seven furlongs but then curiously rated off the slow pace in the Fury Stakes. No Time was in a fight with her rider in the Grade 3 Selene Stakes last time.

REVELER'S ROW, the only filly to have tried 1 1/8 miles when she led almost the way only to get caught by an older runner, is light on experience and her rider Rafael Hernandez has elected to partner ARISTELLA. The latter won the slow Princess Elizabeth last year but she has been waiting for a chance to get a route distance this year and she can pick up some pieces.

Of the others, CRYSTAL VISIONS deserves a look as she has had some troubled trips. She was alongside Shifty at the finish of the Princess Elizabeth last year and recently closed ground at seven furlongs behind a very good US bred filly. In addition, Crystal Visions is adding Lasix for the first time.

Based on class, speed figures and from watching her previous races, SHIFTY is the pick for D J Stable, trained Casse and breeder Anderson Farms.

Jen's Picks

5 – SHIFTY

9 – CRYSTAL VISIONS

10 – ARISTELLA

7 – REVELER'S ROW

1. War Signal – Mark Casse trainee might want the early lead to herself

2. Nata Trouble – Hard trying filly is stakes placed; distance a hurdle

3. Ella It Is – Easy early lead when she won her maiden

4. Innisfree Isle – Broke her maiden second time out at 1 1/16 miles

5. Shifty – Needs better trip, has strong Beyer Speed Figures

6. R Canadian Apple – Still a maiden but distance suits

7. Reveler's Row – Good try when second to an older mare at 9 furlongs

8. No Time – Impeccably bred Casse filly was in a fight with rider last time

9. Crystal Visions – First time Lasix and should like distance

10. Aristella – Princess Elizabeth winner in 2024 finally gets more distance

11. Winterberry – fleet filly is working fast

12. D'aurum – Maiden filly will like distance, but she's in deep