A trio of stable stars from the Bob McIntosh barn are nearly ready to begin their 2011 campaigns
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Strike An Attitude, Lauren and Windsong Soprano are just a few weeks away from qualifying, according to the veteran conditioner.
After racing primarily on the Grand Circuit last year as a two-year-old, Strike An Attitude is looking to extend her already impressive $582,614 bankroll.
The homebred daughter of Western Hanover-Strike A Balance recorded a pair of noteworthy second-place finishes in both the $600,000 Breeders Crown and $501,000 Three Diamonds.
“She’s come back really great,” said McIntosh from his home in Windsor, Ont. “She grew up some and has really filled out like I thought she would. She’s trained down to 2:00 over my farm track and is about three weeks away from qualifying.”
With 14 starts last season, Strike An Attitude concluded her year with a 6-4-1 record. She also captured a pair of stakes victories in Lexington, Kentucky, as well as a third-place finish in the $688,000 Shes A Great Lady.
McIntosh shares the ownership papers with CSX Stables of Liberty Center, Ohio and Jerry Silva of Long Beach, New York.
Lauren, one of the top contenders in the Ontario Sires Stakes last year, is also on the brink of making her three-year-old debut.
“Her and Strike An Attitude train together, so she has been in 2:00, as well,” stated McIntosh. “To be honest, I haven’t really looked at the schedule yet for the both of them. They will tell me when their ready.”
Lauren, a hombred daughter of Modern Art-One Cadet, earned $316,756 last season while capturing a pair of $130,000 OSS Gold finals. Gordon and Claudia Wright of Charlotte, Michigan own the miss, who recorded an 8-3-0 record from 14 starts with a 1:53 life’s best.
Windsong Soprano, last year’s O’Brien Award winner for Canada’s older trotting mare of the year, will be ready to qualify within the next week or two, according to McIntosh.
The five-year-old daughter of Windsongs Legacy-Muscling In competed on the Grand Circuit for the majority of her racing career, which reflects on her $1,270,730 bankroll.
“She will get one, maybe two more training miles, then she will qualify. I’ll likely race her at Woodbine then play it by ear. She will likely get the same type of campaign as last year.”
Purchased as a yearling for $110,000 by Lothlorien of Cheltenham, Ont., Windsong Soprano put together a record of 4-7-0 from 16 starts last year with earnings of $263,485.
(With files from WEG)