ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Jacally and Dancing Raven will both compete around two turns for the first time Saturday at Woodbine in the $125,000 Eternal Search Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile race that drew six other Ontario-sired 3-year-old fillies.
Jacally graduated first-time out in a slow clocking May 7. She then leaped right into Ontario-sired stakes company May 24, finishing fifth in the seven-furlong Lady Angela.
After ending up second in back-to-back Ontario-sired allowances on the Polytrack, Jacally won the seven-furlong Passing Mood Stakes in her first start on the grass July 21. She was stuck in traffic along the rail during much of that event, before surging late to prevail by a nose, and was awarded a Beyer Speed Figure OF 78.
Jacally, an attractive daughter of Bold Executive, is closely related to Princess Alicia, a two-time Ontario-sired stakes winner over middle distances.
“She should be okay at the distance,” said trainer Roger Attfield. “She’s actually bred to go long.”
Leading rider Eurico Da Silva retains the mount on Jacally, who is owned by Harlequin Ranches.
Dancing Raven rallied from the trailing position in a seven-horse field to land her debut by 2 1/2 lengths going three-quarters June 9. Three weeks later, she defeated Jacally by a nose in a seven-furlong allowance, receiving a 65 Beyer Figure.
Most recently in the $127,400 Passing Mood, Dancing Raven made up some ground on the outside to finish a nonthreatening third under Chantal Sutherland.
“I thought she ran well, and she was trying to finish,” said trainer Mike Doyle.
Doyle said he has no reservations with running Dancing Raven over a route of ground.
“I don’t see that the distance is going to be an issue for her,” said Doyle, who was pleased her five-furlong breeze in 1:02 seconds last Saturday.
Emma Wilson picks up the mount on Dancing Raven, in the absence of Sutherland, who is riding Perfect Shirl Saturday in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks.
Golden Girl Sue, who was a fading sixth in the Passing Mood, beat the improving mare Interregnum in a restricted allowance over 1 1/16 miles on the Polytrack July 7.
Attitude Included, the 122-pound highweight, has struggled since her victory in the Nov. 11 South Ocean Stakes. She is one of two Mark Casse-trained runners in the lineup, along with Venus Bay, who was supplemented at a cost of $2,500.
