2016 Royal North Stakes Preview, Entries & Odds

OffTrackBetting.com - The Grade 3 Royal North Stakes will be contested Sunday, July 31 at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. A purse of $150,000 will be on the line for fillies and mares three years old and upward willing to dash six furlongs on Woodbine's turf track.

A field of 10 older females will take to the track in the Royal North Stakes - race 8 on Woodbine's Sunday card. Post time is 4:47 PM. Here is a glance into the past performances of all 10 combatants for this Grade 3 stakes.

2016 Royal North Stakes Race Preview at Woodbine Racetrack

Lady Shipman 7-5 - Kiaran McLaughlin trained filly has looked very good in her 17 race career - 11 wins (nine stakes), two seconds and two third place finishes - she finished third in Eclipse Award voting for female sprinter. She enters off a disappointing fifth in the Grade 2 Highlander Stakes on this track July 3 after a two race win streak - the minor The Very One Stakes May 21 and the minor License Fee Stakes May 1. Before that was a seventh in a Group 1 race in the UAE, another win in the minor Ladies' Turf Sprint at Gulfstream in February and a good second in her only other graded stakes action to date - the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. She also had four straight minor stakes scores last summer. Lady Shipman has been impressive so far and outside of two uncharacteristic efforts has been very competitive. She aims for a strong bounce back and for her first ever graded stakes win Sunday from post 5 with Jesse Campbell in the reins of the morning line favorite.

Mississippi Delta 4-1 - Mark Casse trained filly has four wins and two second place finishes in 11 career starts but has looked pedestrian in the other five. She enters off a fourth in the minor Perfect Sting Stakes July 2 at Belmont Park after a sixth in the minor Intercontinental Stakes on that track June 9 and consecutive runner up finishes in graded stakes action - in the Grade 2 Nassau Stakes on this track May 29 and in the Grade 2 Honey Fox Stakes at Gulfstream April 2. She also had an Allowance score March 6 and three straight wins last year including the minor Alywow Stakes and Glorious Song Stakes at Woodbine. Mississippi Delta has been competitive at times but has failed to place in her last two starts overall. Alan Garcia will guide Mississippi Delta hoping for her first graded stakes score overall and first stakes win in over a year - from post 7 as the morning line second choice.

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Josdesanimaux 6-1 - Mark Casse trained filly has four wins and a second place finish in 11 career starts. She won the minor Florida Sire Jewel Princess Stakes at Gulfstream Park last September and has been just OK since. Last time out was a fourth in the Grade 3 Mint Julep Stakes at Churchill Downs June 11 after a fifth in the Grade 3 Gallorette Handicap at Pimlico May 21 and an OK second in the minor Pleasant Acres Stallions Distaff Turf Stakes at Tampa Bay in April. Josdesanimaux has been OK in her career so far but searches for her first graded stakes score from gate 8 Sunday. Patrick Husbands rides the third betting choice.

Cactus Kris 8-1 - has seven wins, seven seconds and three third place finishes in 21 career starts for trainer Ryan Walsh - just two career starts on grass. She won the Grade 3 Ontario Fashion Stakes here in October and went on to a fourth in the Grade 2 Bessarabian Stakes in November and a second in the minor Giant's Causeway Stakes at Keeneland in April. Her last two starts have been good - a second last time out in the minor Satin and Lace Stakes at Presque Isle Downs June 19 followed a good win in the Grade 3 Hendrie Stakes here in May. She also had a third in the Grade 3 Seaway Stakes at Woodbine August 8 and a win in the minor Satin and Lace Stakes in June 14, 2015. Cactus Kris has placed in nine of her last 11 starts overall, has three wins, two seconds and a third place finish on this track and is competitive virtually every time out. She hopes to continue that trend with Huber Villa-Gomez guiding the intriguing 8-1 shot from post 9.

Disco Barbie 8-1 - Dale Capuano trained mare has placed in 18 of 23 career starts but hasn't been that great lately. She posted four straight runner-up finishes in 2014 including the Grade 2 Matron Stakes, the Grade 3 Ontario Fashion Stakes and the Grade 2 Presque Isle Downs Masters but struggled a tad after that. Disco Barbie been OK lately however - a win last time out over Cactus Kris in the minor Satin and Lace Stakes June 19 followed an Allowance score May 30 (both at Presque Isle Downs), a seventh in the minor The Very One Stakes at Pimlico May 21, nearly a year away and consecutive runner-up finishes including the 2015 Satin and Lace Stakes. She has placed in four of her last five starts, has been competitive against top company before and will be chasing her first graded stakes score Sunday. Rafael Manuel Hernandez rides from post 3.

River Maid 12-1 - Robert Tiller trained filly has 10 career starts with six wins, two seconds and a third place finish all on this track - very good! She enters on a terrific four race win streak - the minor Ballade Stakes last time out June 4, an Allowance Optional Claiming May 1, an Allowance in April and an Allowance Optional Claiming last July. River Maid hasn't been touched in a year and hopes the success translates in her graded stakes debut. Gary Boulanger has been tabbed with keeping an impressive roll going from gate 6 Sunday.

She's Explosive 12-1 - has placed in eight of 10 career starts for trainer Sid Attard - four wins, three seconds and a third place finish - all on this track. She makes her graded stakes debut off an OK second in the minor Ballade Stakes June 4, a seventh in the minor La Prevoyante Stakes last September and a two race win streak - both Allowance races last August. She steps up in so-so form and will have Luis Contreras in the saddle from gate 2.

Silent Treat 20-1 - won the 2014 Ballade Stakes and minor Zadracarta Stakes and finished fifth in this race in 2014. She went on to post three runner-up finishes in minor stakes action the next year. Silent Treat hasn't been great lately however -a fifth last time out in the minor Ballade Stakes June 4 followed a fourth in the minor River Memories Stakes in October and a sixth in the minor Classy `n Smart Stakes in September. She hopes to snap a funk and register her first victory in over two years Sunday when she leaves from gate 4 with Michelle Rainford in the irons.

Rapid Rhythm 20-1 - Michael Stidham trained filly has five wins and a third place finish in 14 career starts. She makes her graded stakes debut off an Allowance Optional Claiming score at Arlington May 13, a sixth in the minor Giant's Causeway Stakes at Keeneland in April and a two race win streak - both Allowance races at Fair Grounds. She has yet to place in two stakes tries and hopes to change all of that around Sunday. Rapid Rhythm looks for her fourth win in five starts when she departs from the rail with Emma-Jayne Wilson guiding her.

Starless Night 20-1 - Danny O'Callaghan trained filly has two wins, two seconds and a third place finish in 10 career starts. She won the minor Shady Well Stakes on this track in 2014 and has mostly been unflattering since. Last time out was a second in an Allowance Optional Claiming here July 10 after a DNF in a similar race June 3 (both on this track and a fifth in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Presque Isle Downs in May. She also had a second in the minor Fury Stakes on this track May 3. Starless Night will be after her first graded stakes score Sunday when she leaves from the outside gate 10 with David Moran scheduled to ride.

2016 Royal North Stakes Entries & Odds

Race 8 on Woodbine's Sunday card with a Post Time of 4:48 PM.