Las Vegas, NV - The Grade 3 Ontario Matron Stakes comes our way from Woodbine this Sunday, July 22nd. Horses three years old and upward will race 1 1/16 miles on Woodbine's main track for their share of the $150,000 purse.
The Ontario Matron Stakes has attracted a strong field of nine females to go in race 6 on Woodbine's Sunday card. Post time is 3:34 PM. Let's take a glimpse into the recent performances of the eight entries and what we can expect on Sunday.
Stars to Shine - will be looking for her first graded stakes win in Sunday. She has fared well in her last two minor stakes races posting wins in the Belle Mahone here last August and after a long layoff at the Trillium Stakes on this track last time out. But her graded stakes results have been less than spectacular - a fifth in the Grade 1 Juddmonte Spinster at Keeneland in October, a third in the Grade 2 Canadian Stakes in September and a fifth in the Grade 2 Dance Smartly Stakes her last July. In 11 career starts Stars to Shine has five wins a second and two third place finishes.
Hooh Why - had an OK 2011 that included a fifth in this race last year. She has been good in 2012 with three wins in six starts this year - at the Florida Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Stakes on January 28th, the First Dude Distaff Stake at Tampa Bay Downs on April 7th and a Handicap race on that same track a month later. Last time out was a third in the Shelby County Stakes at Indiana Downs on June 27th to follow a decent second in the Grade 3 Arlington Matron Stakes.
Bear It's Time - makes her first start since October - a win in the Classy `n Smart Stakes here. Bear It's Time has four wins and two third place finishes in eight career starts - all at Woodbine including an impressive win in the Bison Stakes last July.
Ariana D - will be looking for her first graded stakes win but has finished third in four of her last five starts - the best results coming in the Grade 1 Vinery Madison at Keeneland in April and at the Arlington Matron Stakes in May. Last time out was - you guessed it - a third in the Grade 3 Chicago Handicap on June 30th at Arlington Park. She does hold a win over Hooh Why at the Bessarabian Stakes in 2010.
Ima Soul Miss - will be making her graded stakes debut after three wins and a third in Allowance races and a seventh last time out in the minor Wait a While Stakes at Gulfstream on April 8th.
Ontario Matron Stakes betting at Woodbine with OffTrackBetting.com
Smart Penny - ended 2011 with a couple of Allowance scores here but since has a third in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Keeneland and a third last time out in the Trillium Stakes here on June 24th. She won three straight races here in 2011.
Rock the Moon - had a string of four wins in five races to end 2011 but 2012 hasn't been the same - one second and one third place finish in Allowance Optional Claiming races in five starts is all that she has mustered. Last time out was a fifth in the Trillium Stakes here on June 24th.
Rashnaa - had a string of three second place finishes on this track in Allowance Optional Claiming races toward the end of 2011 but has failed to place in three starts in 2012 - a fifth last time out in the Sweet Blair Too Stakes, a fourth in an Allowance Optional Claiming on June 8th and a fifth in the Grade 2 Hendrie Stakes - all at Woodbine.
Maristar - had a couple of good results in 2011 - a second in the Grade 3 Washington Park Handicap in September and a third to end 2011 in the Grade 2 Chilukki Stakes at Churchill Downs in November but has been disappointing in two starts this year - a fourth in the Trillium Stakes last time out followed a sixth in the La Troienne Stakes at Churchill Downs in May.