BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Mensa has been tabbed as the 2-1 favorite for Saturday’s CA$150,000 bet365 Soaring Free at Woodbine as the Florida-bred colt looks for his second consecutive added-money victory in his first attempt on turf. Trained by Mark Casse for Resolute Racing, Mensa will be among nine 2-year-olds who will go six-and-a-half furlongs on the grass.
Purchased by his current owner for $740,000 out of the Fasig-Tipton Digital Sale on April 29, Mensa recently dominated the CA$127,000 Victoria at Woodbine on July 19.
Going five-and-a-half furlongs on the synthetic main track, Mensa led at every pole to win the Victoria by seven-and-a-quarter lengths under Patrick Husbands. The Victoria was a redemption of sorts for the dark bay or brown ridgling, who finished sixth in the $247,000 Kentucky Juvenile at Churchill Downs on May 2 in the first race for his new owner.
Mensa is by Complexity out of Lady Halite, by Medaglia d’Oro and has earned $102,007 in his two wins in three starts. He broke his maiden by three lengths at Gulfstream Park in April.
He is also a graduate of Ocala Breeders’ Sales having sold to D.J. Stable for $135,000 out of the consignment of breeder Beth Bayer at the 2023 October Yearling Sale.
Husbands gets the return mount on Mensa and they will break from post five.
Trainer Nathan Squires will saddle Cairo Caper, who makes his first start against added-money company in the Soaring Free.
The gray or roan son of Cairo Prince exits a length-and-a-half victory against special weight maidens going six furlongs on the turf at Woodbine on July 4 in his second career start. In his first race, Cairo Caper finished third in maiden special weight won by Soaring Free entrant Your Valentino on the Woodbine synthetic on June 23.
Cairo Prince will break from the immediate right of Mensa in post six with Jose Campos in the saddle. They are 3-1 in the program.
After winning the aforementioned maiden race, Your Valentino was fifth, beaten nearly 12 lengths by Mensa in the Victoria.
Trained by Alex McPherson for Katie O’Connor, Your Valentino has earned $40,617 in his two starts.
The son of Tapiture is listed at 20-1 in the program and Daisuke Fukumoto will guide him from post three.
Rounding the field are Ylivoimainen with Eswan Flores named to ride, Test Score and jockey Ruben Hernandez, Coolcollected will be ridden by Ryan Munger, Kazushi Kimura returns to Woodbine from his current base at Del Mar to ride Dream On, Shadow Factor has jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson and Homie will have David Cohen aboard.
