BY BROCK SHERIDAN
After finishing out of the top three for the first time in her career last out in the Grade 3 Ontario Colleen on grass, Florida-bred Sabatini will return to the synthetic main track at Woodbine for Saturday’s Ontario Matron. The mile-and-a-sixteenth Ontario Matron offers a purse of CA$150,000 and has attracted a full field of 14 fillies and mares, plus one on the also-eligible list.
Sabatini could not catch front-running winner Time to Dazzle in the one-mile Ontario Colleen on July 27 at Woodbine, eventually finishing seventh. In four career starts prior, all on synthetic, she was the model of consistency having won two with a second and a third.
Both victories came in stakes for the Josie Carroll trainee, including a two-length score in the Grade 3 Selene going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on June 29 and in the CA$128,000 Star Shoot over six furlongs in April, both at Woodbine. She was second to Witwatersrand in the CA$102,000 Ring Angel at Woodbine in May and third on debut in a maiden special weight at Turfway Park on March 23.
Sabatini is owned by NK Racing and LNJ Foxwoods and has earned $139,353. She is by Uncle Mo out of Gabriellestoblame, by Blame and was bred in Florida by Bridlewood Farm.
She has post 10, is 8-1 on the morning line and will be ridden for the first time by John Velazquez.
Solo Album tries for her second straight stakes victory after winning the Grade 3 Trillium by a head at Woodbine on July 20.
Trained by Mark Casse for Gary Barber, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Steven Rocco, the speedy Solo Album led from the start in the mile-and-a-sixteenth Trillium but had to hold off a late challenge by runner-up Forever Dixie and Fashionably Fab in third, both of whom return for the Matron.
This will be the third consecutive race in which the three fillies face each other after making up the trifecta in the Grade 3 Belle Mahone at Woodbine on June 1. That day, Fashionable Fab finished a neck in front of Solo Album in second with Forever Dixie another four lengths back in third.
By Curlin out of Summer Solo, by Arch, Solo Album has earned $257,846 from three wins in 14 career starts with five seconds and a third.
Solo Album is the 3-1 morning line favorite and will be ridden by Frankie Dettori from post nine.
Since the Trillium, Fashionable Fab tried the Woodbine turf in the Grade 2 Canadian on Aug. 10 and finished fourth behind winner Full Count Felicia.
The 4-year-old daughter of Silent Name (Jpn) out of Flashy’s Legacy, by Curlin has earned $413,891 from winning eight with three thirds in 14 starts.
Last year trainer Kevin Attard saw Fashionable Fab win five consecutive stakes including the Ashbridges Bay in November and the La Prevoyante in December, both against Ontario-breds at Woodbine.
Set at 4-1 in the program, Fashionable Fab is owned by Terra Racing Stable and will be ridden by Kazushi Kimura from post eight.
Casse also trains Forever Dixie, who was seventh in the Canadian for owner John C. Oxley.
Forever Dixie has not won since taking an upper level, $62,500 optional claiming on the Gulfstream Park turf in April but does have a stakes victory over the Woodbine synthetic at the Matron distance in last year’s Grade 3 Ontario Damsel in October.
The 4-year-old daughter of Quality Road out of Dixie Strike, by Dixie Union has four wins, three seconds and two thirds in 14 career starts with earnings of $237,496.
Forever Dixie is 6-1 on the morning line and will be ridden by Patrick Husbands from post 11.
Completing the field are Libban with Edgard Zayas named to ride, Sahin Civaci has the mount on Elysian Field, Rosie’s Alibi and jockey Antonio Gallardo, Affirmative Lady will be ridden by Rafael Hernandez, Blueberry Fields will have Justin Stein up, Batucada and rider Umberto Rispoli, Sand and Sea with jockey Axel Concepcion, Emma-Jayne Wilson takes the call on Tito’s Calling, Kimura is also named on Ro Town and Luis Contreras will guide Metaphysical. Ephrata (GB) is on the also-eligible list.
