Kevin Attard trainees Courtly Ro and Fashionably Fab will chase top prize in Saturday's $125,000 Fury Stakes Presented by Stella Artois, at Woodbine.
A key prep on the road to this year's $500,000 Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser (July 23, at Woodbine), the seven-furlong main track Fury, for 3-year-old fillies foaled in Canada, has attracted nine hopefuls.
Courtly Ro, a daughter of Cairo Prince, will make the first start of her sophomore season for owner Raroma Stable.
Bred by Sam-Son Farm, the grey filly went 1-0-1 from four starts in 2022. She broke her maiden in her second outing, a half-length score at seven furlongs on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course.
She capped off her campaign with a seventh in the Natalma (G1T) on September 17 and a fifth in the 1 1/16-mile main track Princess Elizabeth in October.
“Courtly Ro hooked some tough ones in the last two races of her 2-year-old campaign, but I think they served as important learning experiences for her,” said Attard, who won last year's Fury with eventual Woodbine Oaks and Queen's Plate winner, and Canada's horse of the year, Moira. “We're hoping that she will continue to move forward in her sophomore season.”
Attard is pleased with how Courtly Ro has been prepping for her third straight stakes appearance and second consecutive Tapeta engagement.
“She had a good winter and we've given her a steady work tab getting ready for this race. She's just a nice filly with a great attitude.”
His other hopeful is Terra Racing homebred Fashionably Fab, a daughter of Silent Name (JPN).
After a third in her career bow last September, the dark bay reeled off three straight scores, including a maiden-breaking 11 ¼-length romp in a seven-furlong Tapeta race next time out. She made it two straight trips to the winner's circle after a three-quarter length victory at 6 ½ furlongs on November 3 before a season-ending triumph in the six-furlong main track Shady Well Stakes on December 9.
“One of the first things that comes to mind with Fashionably Fab is the consistency she's shown,” said Attard. “She's a filly that can handle any challenge and doesn't get fazed by something new. I think another impressive thing is her ability to dig in down the lane. Whenever she's engaged by a rival, she steps up and enjoys the challenge.”
Attard, who has posted 685 career wins, is ready to get things rolling with the filly who has earned $124,273 (U.S.) to date.
“She had a really nice winter and we're looking forward to seeing her get things underway for her 3-year-old campaign.”
Dual hall of fame trainer Mark Casse, who will be represented by Elysian Field, Me and My Shadow, and Ticker Tape Home, has won six editions of the Fury, including four consecutive runnings from 2011-14.
The Fury is slated as race nine of 10. First post time is 1:10 p.m. Fans can also watch and wager on all the action through HPIbet and the Dark Horse Bets app.
FIELD FOR THE $125,000 FURY STAKES PRESENTED BY STELLA ARTOIS
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Tito's Calling – Luis Contreras – Ross Armata, Jr.
2 – Speed Trap – Kazushi Kimura – Josie Carroll
3 – Canadian Sweetheart – Eswan Flores – Renico Lafond
4 – Elysian Field – Sahin Civaci – Mark Casse
5 – Ticker Tape Home – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse
6 – Me and My Shadow – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Mark Casse
7 – Courtly Ro – Ryan Munger – Kevin Attard
8 – Fashionably Fab – Rafael Hernandez – Kevin Attard
9 – Anam Cara – Jose Campos – Sarah Ritchie
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