‘Strutting’ Her Stuff to the Breeders’ Cup

Winner of the 2014 GIII Maple Leaf S. over the local synthetic track, Strut the Course failed to transfer that form over to a conventional dirt course and was a well-beaten seventh behind Frivolous (Empire Maker) in the GII Falls City H. at Churchill Downs to close out an otherwise-productive campaign. In tough for her seasonal debut in this track’s grassy GII Nassau S. over a mile May 23, the homebred defeated subsequent adjudicated GI Beverly D. S. winner Watsdachances (Ire) (Diamond Green {Fr}) in the GII Dance Smartly S. over this track and distance July 5 and was exiting a near-miss second to Uchenna (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) in the GIII Ontario Matron S. back on the Polytrack July 25.

A market drifter as Hoop of Colour was more heavily bet than expected, Strut the Course was taken a nice hold of by Luis Conteras and settled in between horses in the third of three flights of three horses through an opening half-mile in a decent :49.37 given the squishy underfoot conditions. Contreras held that position into the final quarter-mile and traveled strongly in a pocket as three or four of them lined up across the track. Hoop of Colour, a bit rank early, hit the front at the eighth pole and had company to her outside from Uchenna and Overheard (Macho Uno), but Strut the Course dove down to the inside of Hoop of Colour and finished best of all. Button Down closed well up the fence for second.

Though she’s got her spot in the field for the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly/Mare Turf, Strut the Course is not guaranteed to make the trip.

“I have to talk to the owner [about the Breeders’ Cup]. I am not sure,” admitted trainer Barb Minshall, who also sent out Stacked Deck (First Samurai) to win the GIII Bold Conquest S. earlier on the card. “The [GI] E.P. Taylor S. [10f, Oct. 18] looks pretty tempting here, but we’ll talk about it. It has just been awesome. This filly has been so good from the get-go and John has been so great, letting me put her where we want to run her and give her the time we need. It’s just been great. She was coming into this race in awesome shape.”

Sunday, Woodbine
CANADIAN S.-GII, C$338,000, WO, 9-13, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/8mT, 1:49.56, yl.
1–STRUT THE COURSE, 121, m, 5, by Strut the Stage
1st Dam: Bold Course, by Trajectory
2nd Dam: Bold Courant, by Bold n’ Flashy
3rd Dam: Political Dancer, by Dancing Champ
O/B-John Unger (ON); T-Barbara J Minshall; J-Luis
Contreras. C$216,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. Older
Mare, 21-9-4-2, $891,457. Werk Nick Rating: C+.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
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2–Button Down (GB), 118, f, 4, Oasis Dream (GB)—
Modesta (Ire), by Sadler’s Wells. (65,000gns 3yo ’14 TATMAR). O-Greenwood Lodge Farm Inc.;
B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Josie Carroll.
C$60,000.
3–Hoop of Colour, 121, f, 4, Distorted Humor–Surya,
by Unbridled. O/B-Flaxman Holdings Limited (KY);
T-H. Graham Motion. C$30,000.
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Margins: HF, HF, 2 1/4. Odds: 3.80, 7.60, 2.70.
Also Ran: Uchenna (Ire), Llanarmon, Overheard, Personal Diary, Ticking Katie (Ire), Copper Kitten, Bear’s Pride. Scratched: Habibi (NZ).
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.