London’ Aims to Scale the Heights

Sunday’s Woodbine Oaks sees 10 Canadian-bred fillies vie for the first Canadian Classic of the season, with the three-for-four London Tower (Head Chopper) the 5-2 morning line pick on paper. Competing exclusively over the Woodbine all-weather against Canadian-breds in her short career, the Steve Owens homebred closed from far back in her sophomore bow to take the restricted Fury S. against several of these, including the reopposing third Galina Point (Saffir) andBrooklynsway (Giant Gizmo), who took superfecta honors May 3. A 7 3/4-length debut winner in front-running style Oct. 4, the Owens-trained miss suffered her only loss to date, when just failing to stay after setting the pace in the 1 1/16-mile Princess Elizabeth S. to the aforementioned Brooklynsway, with Shez a Masterpiece (Mast Track) in second Nov. 2. Back to her winning ways with a 6 1/2-length drubbing of her foes to sign off her juvenile year in the Ontario Lassie S. going 1 1/16 miles Nov. 30, London Tower breezed a grassy five panels in 1:00 2/5 (3/23) June 5. 

In addition to Gary Barber’s duo of Galina Point and Shez a Masterpiece, trainer Mark Casse, who is hunting for Woodbine Oaks victory number four, saddles GIII Selene S. fourth Season Ticket (Lemon Drop Kid) and maiden Tancook(Macho Uno), after winning the 2014 edition with 2014 Canadian Horse of the Year and champion sophomore filly Lexie Lou (Sligo Bay {Ire}). The May 31 restricted Lady Angela S. winner Galina Point is probably the seven-time Sovereign Award winner’s best chance. “All our horses are doing well,” said Casse. “We think we have a chance, we just need some luck. Last year, Lexie Lou and Wild Catomine [his Oaks one-two finishers] both had come off good races. I just know, after 35 years, anything’s possible. It’s unfortunate [that all of my horses] come from off the pace. And the horse to beat [London Tower] has got speed, but it is a mile and an eighth, so that helps.”

The May 24 GIII Selene S. third Leading Edge (Tapit) could also have a say in the outcome for Chiefswood Stable and trainer Roger Attfield. Sporting first-time blinkers, the gray fired a five-panel bullet (1/11) in 1:02 1/5 over the main track here June 7.