Canadian Stakes 2013 Contenders at Woodbine Racetrack

Las Vegas, NV - The Grade 2 Canadian Stakes takes place this Sunday, September 15 from a very busy Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. Fillies and mares three years old and upward will take to Woodbine's turf track and race 1 1/8 miles for a purse of $300,000.

A field of nine older females will line up in the Canadian Stakes - race 5 on Woodbine's impressive and busy Sunday card. Post time is 2:59 PM. Here is a brief glance into the past performances of all nine combatants for this Grade 2 stakes. A win here means an automatic berth into the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf in November.

2013 Canadian Stakes Race Favorite Entries

No Explaining - Roger Attfield trained mare is coming off an Allowance Optional Claiming score here August 3 after a good third behind Solid Appeal in the Grade 2 Dance Smartly Stakes on this track July 7 and a second in an Allowance Optional Claiming in June. Her best result came in May of 2011 - a win in the Grade 3 Gallorette Handicap at Pimlico. The Terrific John Velazquez will be in the saddle from post 2 Sunday for one of the favorites in the Canadian Stakes.

Solid Appeal - Reade Baker trained multiple graded stakes winner has won three of four starts this year - an Allowance at Keeneland, the Grade 2 Nassau Stakes in May and the Grade 2 Dance Smartly Stakes July 7 - both stakes wins at Woodbine. Last time out was a career worst performance - a sixth in the Grade 1 Beverley D. Stakes at Arlington Park August 17. She has won her last three starts on this track and will be looking to avenge an uncharacteristic performance last time out. She will carry the top weight of 121 pounds and depart from post 3 with Jesse Campbell aboard.

Canadian Stakes 2013 | Remaining Contenders

Lady First - British bred filly makes her North American debut this Sunday after placing in six of her last seven starts at home. She enters off a win in the Grade 3 Thoroughbred Breeders Association Atalanta Stakes at Sandown Park August 3 (just one of 3 in 17 career starts) after a third and a second in the month of July. She has been very competitive in her career however - placing in 13 of 17 starts. She has a ton of stakes experience and enters the Canadian Stakes with a lot of hype.

La Tia - ships in from Arlington Park where she had four straight starts - two wins in the Spring including an Allowance Optional Claiming and the minor Lincoln Heritage Handicap, a third in the Grade 3 Modesty handicap July 13 and a fifth last time out in the Grade 1 Beverly D. Her best career result came in July of 2012 - a terrific win in the Grade 3 Arlington Oaks. La Tia has one starts at Woodbine and it was a win in the minor La Lorgnette Stakes. She drew the far outside post.

Colonia Flag - Michael Matz trainee had a career best effort on this track last August - a win in the Grade 3 Ontario Colleen Stakes and took another five starts to find the winner's circle again - last time out in the minor Rosenna Stakes at Delaware Park. She finished an OK third in June in the Grade 3 Mint Julep Handicap at Churchill Downs in her first start this year but followed that with a disappointing sixth in the Grade 3 Modesty Handicap at Arlington Park July 13. Joe Rocco Jr. will be in the irons from post 7 as Colonial Flag enters in so-so form.

Canadian Stakes betting at Woodbine Racetrack with OffTrackBetting.com

Minakshi - had a win and a second place finish in her native France before shipping to North America. In her four starts in the States Minakshi was second in the minor Owsley Stakes May 1, a very respectable third after setting the pace in the Grade 2 Sheepshead Bay Stakes at Belmont Park May 25, fourth in the Grade 2 New York Stakes and an OK third last time out in the Grade 3 Matchmaker Stakes at Monmouth Park July 28. She has been knocking on the door and hopes to finally break through in stakes company Sunday.

Moment of Majesty - finished seventh in this race last year and followed that with another seventh in the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor. She ended 2012 with a pair of fourths in a couple of stakes on this track and started 2013 with a third in an Allowance Optional Claiming May 2. Last time out was her best result in some time however - a third in the minor Belle Mahone Stakes here August 25 after an ugly eighth in the Grade 2 Dance Smartly Stakes July 7. She has a lot of experience on this track and has three wins here but hasn't looked great ahead of this weekend.

Pure Blue Sky - won two straight Allowance races here in the fall and has raced to a pair of fifths in minor stakes action since - the Maple Leaf Stakes in November and the Trillium Stakes June 8. Her last two starts have resulted in third place finishes - in the Grade 3 Ontario Matron Stakes July 20 and the minor Flaming Page Stakes last time out August 14. She has four wins (all on this track), a second and six third in 15 career starts.

Meri Shika - French bred filly makes her first start in North America Sunday after one win, two seconds and two third place finishes in 11 career starts. She hasn't won in over a year but did have a second June 4 at Longchamp to go along with a pair of on-the-board finishes to start her year.

2013 Canadian Stakes Entries & Odds

Race 5 on Woodbine Racetrack's Sunday card with a Post Time of 2:59 PM.