BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Florida-bred Sophia’s Storm, who is undefeated in three starts at Assiniboia Downs this spring and summer, attempts to stretch that streak to four in Tuesday night’s US$36,500 Canada Stakes. The Steve Keplin Jr.-trained 6-year-old mare has won four of her last five as she takes on seven other fillies and mares at seven-and-a-half furlongs

Claimed by Keplin for $8,000 out of a second-place finish to Sandpiper Memories at Tampa Bay Downs on April 12, Sophia’s Storm also won a conditioned $5,000 claiming at Tampa Bay on March 23, a race in which she was also tagged. In fact, the popular bay mare has been claimed three times going back to Dec. 14 when she was taken for $20,000 out of a fourth-place finish behind Florida-bred winner Julee’s Lagacy at Gulfstream Park.  

In her first start north of the border on May 21 at Assiniboia, Sophia Storm won a conditioned $17,000 optional claiming going five-and-a-half furlongs in her first start for Keplin and owners Arnason Farms, Parker Wallette and James Keplin. She then won the US$18,181 Red Berry overnight stakes by nearly three lengths going five furlongs on June 4 and the US$36,316 La Verendrye by a half-length ahead of Burrow Down going six furlongs on June 25.

 

Sophia’s Storm has won half of her eight starts this year and $46,856 in the three victories since Keplin claimed her. She has won 12 of 40 career starts with seven seconds and three thirds. By Handsome Mike out of Sophia’s Pride, by Pleasant Tap, Sophia Storm was bred in Florida by Ruben Sierra’s Just for Fun Stable Inc. and has lifetime earnings of $272,873.

She is the 7-5 favorite and will break from post seven with jockey Sven Balroop.

Keplin will also saddle Florida-bred Marvelous Lady, a winner of a $12,000 optional claiming by four lengths at Assiniboia going seven-and-a-half furlongs in her last start.

A winner of four straight at Tampa Bay Downs from November through January, Marvelous Lady was third in a $12,000 optional claiming at Assiniboia on June 12 in her first start for Keplin and owners Arnason Farms, Drop’en Racing, James Keplin and Parker Wallette.

 

Marvelous Lady is by Ocala Stud’s leading Florida sire Khozan out of Sapphire Blue, by Mr. Greeley and she was bred by Gelfenstein Farm. She has five wins, two seconds and two thirds in 22 starts with earnings of $74,873.

Prayven Badrie has the call on the 5-year-old mare who is 10-1 in the program and has post two.

Burrow Downs returns to again face Sophia’s Storm as does Dynamic Strike, who was fourth in the La Verendrye and third in the May 21 optional claiming, and Jj’s American Diva, sixth in the optional claiming.

Trained by Mike Taphorn for Gerald Babchishin, Burrow Down won the US$48,000 RedTail Landing at Century Mile on May 31 in one other start this year prior to the La Verendrye. Last year, Burrow Down won the US$18512 Coral Prospect overnight stakes and US$36,372 Manitoba Matron at Assiniboia.

Burrow Down has a career ledger of 10 wins, six seconds and five thirds from 31 starts with earnings of $267,008. She is by Connect out of True Endeavor, by After Market.

Ronald Ali will ride the 6-year-old mare from post one and they are 9-5 on the morning line. 

Others entered for the Canada are Jj’s American Diva with Rachaad Knights named to ride, Dane Dawkings will guide Big Stretch and Dynamic Strike with Ciera Pruitt in the saddle. Midshipman’s Lady and Baby Gundin are scratched.

Return to the July 15 issue of Wire to Wire