Canadian Triple Tiara showdown set for Wonder Where

Sunday’s C$250,000 Wonder Where Stakes at Woodbine is the final of the Canadian Triple Tiara for sophomore fillies, and the 1 1/4-mile turf event has drawn the top three from both of the previous legs – the June 12 Woodbine Oaks and July 10 Bison City Stakes.

Neshama was a surprise at 15-1 when nosing out 4-5 favorite Gamble’s Ghost in the Woodbine Oaks, and proved that run was no fluke when third next out in the Bison City.

Caren, two lengths behind in third in the Woodbine Oaks, wired the Bison City by a length with Neshama just missing second by a head to Trini Brewnette. Gamble’s Ghost was a flat seventh in the second jewel of the Triple Tiara.

Now the quartet will take their rivalry to the turf in the Wonder Where. Neither Neshama nor Trini Brewnette has ever competed on turf, but trainer Catherine Day-Phillips did send Neshama out to work five furlongs in 1:01.60 on Woodbine’s green July 31.

Caren’s one try on the grass resulted in a third-place effort in the Natalma Stakes (Can-G2) last September. Gamble’s Ghost was second in the Natalma and would go on to rally for a close sixth, beaten just two lengths, in the grassy Florida Oaks (G3) to kick off her sophomore campaign.

Swoop and Strike bypassed on both the Woodbine Oaks and Bison City, but does boast a pair of starts on Woodbine’s turf, including a three-quarter length second in the Ontario Damsel Stakes last out. That one-mile contest also saw Miss Metropolitan rally for third after lacking room early.

Leroy’s Princess just broke her maiden going nine furlongs over the course and will break just inside of Conquest Dynasty, a last-out 3 1/2-length allowance winner on the grass, in the Wonder Where.

Completing the Wonder Where field are the appropriately named Wonderland, a maiden claiming scorer on the turf most recently; Luckbe Tanya, fifth on July 16 in her only grass try; last-out all-weather maiden victress Sonic Cyster; Bison City fourth-placer Meadow Rose; and maiden winner Zermetta, who has gone off at double-digit odds in all four of her lifetime starts thus far.

Also at Woodbine on Sunday, a field of 10 sophomore fillies will line up in the C$125,000 Duchess Stakes going seven furlongs on the main all-weather surface.

Neshama & Caren photos courtesy of WEG/Michael Burns Photography