With just five starts under her belt thus far, Andover Hall filly Tuscan Gal will face the biggest test of her young career Saturday at Woodbine Racetrack when she will prance onto the oval to contest the $616,000 final of the Goldsmith Maid for juvenile trotting fillies.
Fortunately, Tuscan Gal has several things going for her. First off, she'll have Trevor Ritchie, known for his deft touch with trotters, in the bike to guide her. Secondly, the filly has drawn Post 2, just to the outside of Elusive Desire, whom she defeated in last week's elimination by a head.
Thirdly, according to trainer Mark Steacy, is the fact that she's lightly-raced to this point -- meaning that the filly will be fresh and ready for the challenge.
"She was staked in Quebec," Steacy noted, "but that didn't work out, obviously. So she was sent to me, and I spent July just schooling her and bringing her along slowly. She didn't make her first start till August.
"She was in the Peaceful Way elims, but she only had a start or two at that point and raced a little green. She did win the consolation, and she just won the Roger White stake back in Montreal on October 5th. So I think she's ready for this company, though there are lots of nice fillies in there. Kelly O'Donnell's filly, Up Front Annika, has been good all year, and Elusive Desire has been really consistent as well and is probably due for a win.
"Tuscan Gal can race either way, though I think she's probably best from off the pace. The only thing about her is she can be a little aggressive off the gate. I'll let Trevor handle that."
Should the daughter of Andover Hall--Duxelle Hanover live up to her 7-2 favourite status in the morning line, she may be pointed next for the Matron Stakes at Dover Downs, and the Breeders Crown to wind out the year.
"She's not a big-framed filly, so we're being careful about how much pressure we put on her, but if she continues to develop she could be a top player next year," Steacy says. "Her owners (Hudson Standardbred Stables Inc. and Ecurie Gaetan Bono Inc, of Montreal, QC) are pretty excited about her."
The Goldsmith Maid -- part of the $2.7 million Fall Four card this Saturday, October 25 at Woodbine -- has been carded as Race 4 (8:37 p.m.).
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(With files from WEG)