BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Ralph R. Murray and Calstar Farm’s Miss Vyvyanne steps outside filly and mare company for the first time in her career Saturday when she goes postward in the CAN$200,000 bet365 Highlander, a Grade 2 sprint on the Woodbine turf. Seven 4-year-olds and older will race five furlongs with Miss Vyvyanne getting respect as the 5-2 second choice on the morning line.
A victory by Miss Vyvyanne would also earn a $5,000 Export Incentive paid to breeders Tom McCrocklin and Gerald Martin by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.
Miss Vyvyanne has won six of her last eight starts going back to June 7 last year when she won a second conditional, $25,000 optional claiming going five furlongs on the Woodbine turf. Trainer Gail Cox and Murray claimed her for $32,000 out of her next start, a three-and-a-half-length win in a second level optional claiming three weeks later, but she lost in her first start for the new barn, finishing fifth in a second level, $50,000 optional claiming at five-and-a-half furlongs on the Woodbine synthetic.
She then rattled off four straight wins including a length-and-a-quarter score in the $75,000 Golden Beach overnight handicap going five furlongs on the Gulfstream Park turf two starts back on April 11.
The 6-year-old mare exits a rare second-place finish on May 9 at Woodbine, when passed late by Little Teddy in an upper level, $80,000 optional claiming going five furlongs on the Woodbine synthetic.
Overall, Miss Vyvyanne has 11 wins with three seconds and a third in 24 starts and earnings of $420,431. She is by Rainbow Heir out of Caribean Beat, by Half Ours.
Miss Vyvyanne will be ridden from post one by Pietro Moran, who has been aboard for her last five starts.
Among her rivals is Outlaw Kid, a George Weaver-trained 7-year-old gelding who missed winning the $125,000 Jim McKay Turf Sprint (Listed) last out on May 16 when second, a nose shy of winner Chasing Liberty. Outlaw Kid makes just his third start this year after winning the King T. Leatherbury on April 18. Both starts this year were going five-and-a-half furlongs on the Laurel Park grass.
An earner of $652,614 for owners by R A Hill Stable and SGV Thoroughbreds, Outlaw Kid has won seven with five seconds and three thirds in 25 starts.
The son of Violence has Sahin Civaci named to ride and will break from post four. They are 3-1 on the morning line.
Rounding out the field are G T Five Hundred with Jose Luis Campos in the irons, Foxtrotanna will be guided by David Moran, Western Whirl and jockey Fraser Aebly, Golden Afternoon will have Rafael Hernandez up and Jason Hoyte has the call on Ready to Collect.
Miss Vyvyanne would be the first Florida-bred winner of the Highlander since Solo Guy in 1981, joining Coup Landing in 1971 and two-time winner Stutz Bearcat in 1979 and 1980.
Return to the June 25 issue of Wire to Wire
