Woodbine: Queen Macha turns back for Bessarabian
Queen Macha will make her third straight graded-stakes appearance in Saturday’s Grade 3 Bessarabian at Woodbine.
The seven-furlong main track feature for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and upward, has drawn 14 starters, including Queen Macha.
A daughter of Keen Ice out of the Unbridled’s Song mare Sue Me Baby, the 5-year-old has constructed a record of 27: 4-5-7 to go along with US$221,774 in purse earnings.
Trained by Martin Drexler for owner C2 Racing Stable, the grey mare will contest her fourth consecutive stakes feature after a third in the Sweet Briar Too on Aug. 3, a third in the Seaway (G3) on Aug. 24 and a seventh in the Dance Smartly (G2) on Oct. 5.
“The last race we ran her in (Dance Smartly) was a bit of a shot to take, but I still think she will be good on the grass,” said Drexler. “Honestly, everything that day just wasn’t ideal. It just didn’t work out.”
That said, Drexler, who has eclipsed the $3 million mark in purse earnings for the second consecutive campaign, expects Queen Macha to feel right at home at the seven-panel distance.
“She is very good now, physically, and at this point in her career, I think the seven-eighths on the synthetic is pretty much the perfect scenario for her. It still isn’t an easy spot for her to run in, but I know she is going to like it.
“She is doing great. Knock on wood, we are going into this in great shape. Hopefully, everything shakes out the way we hope, and she gets a decent trip, she should have the outcome we are looking for. She is in very good order for this one.”
Bred by Calumet Farm, Queen Macha launched her career on September 10, 2021, at Gulfstream Park, and finished second.
Her next seven starts, all at Gulfstream, yielded another runner-up effort, a pair of thirds, and four consecutive fourth-place results.
From Feb. 2, 2022, to Sept. 29, 2022, a stretch of nine races, she finished fourth on eight occasions. Queen Macha’s breakthrough win came at Delaware Park during that time frame, in her tenth lifetime start, on July 2, 2022.
Her most recent trip to the winner’s circle came one race prior to the Sweet Briar Too, on July 6, when she rallied for a three-quarter length tally at seven furlongs on the Woodbine all-weather track.
“We know what she is capable of, and we love having her in our barn,” said Drexler. “Like I said, I think this distance, for now, is what she is best suited for.”
Other starters include Ontario Fashion (G3) winner A Game, Hendrie Stakes (G3) winner Gal in a Rush, multiple stakes winner Sunday Shoes, Toronto Cup Stakes winner and multiple graded stakes placed Love to Shop, and Bison City Stakes winner Stormcast.
Trainer Roger Attfield and Kinghaven Farms teamed to win the first two editions of the Bessarabian, in 1985 with Summer Mood and one year later with Playlist.
The race is named after Canada’s champion older female of 1986, a multiple stakes winning daughter of Vice Regent trained by Michael Doyle and owned by Eaton Hall Farm. She finished her racing career with a 37: 18-5-4 mark.
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last Start / Next Start | HRN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Dolce Sopresa Maclean’s Music |
4.12 | Entered | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 2 |
|
Tito’s Calling Society’s Chairman |
3.79 |
2nd, Eternal Search S. |
Entered | |
|
Last Race Next Race |
2nd, Eternal Search S. |
|||||
| 3 |
|
Stormcast Mitole |
0.00 |
2nd, Wonder Where S. |
Entered | |
|
Last Race Next Race |
2nd, Wonder Where S. |
|||||
| 4 |
|
Queen Macha Keen Ice |
3.79 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 5 |
|
A Game Distorted Humor |
0.00 |
1st, Ontario Fashion S. Presented by Tanqueray |
Entered | |
|
Last Race Next Race |
1st, Ontario Fashion S. Presented by Tanqueray |
|||||
| 6 |
|
Gal in a Rush Ghostzapper |
5.34 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 7 |
|
Sunday Shoes Pioneerof the Nile |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 8 |
|
Spansive Karakontie |
4.45 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
| 9 |
|
Star Candy Candy Ride |
4.12 |
8th, Ontario Fashion S. Presented by Tanqueray |
Entered | |
|
Last Race Next Race |
8th, Ontario Fashion S. Presented by Tanqueray |
|||||
| 10 |
|
Love to Shop Violence |
4.45 |
2nd, Ontario Fashion S. Presented by Tanqueray |
Entered | |
|
Last Race Next Race |
2nd, Ontario Fashion S. Presented by Tanqueray |
|||||
| 11 |
|
Tripolina Constitution |
0.00 |
6th, Ontario Fashion S. Presented by Tanqueray |
Entered | |
|
Last Race Next Race |
6th, Ontario Fashion S. Presented by Tanqueray |
|||||
| 12 |
|
Owen’s Tour Guide Tourist |
0.00 |
5th, Ontario Fashion S. Presented by Tanqueray |
Entered | |
|
Last Race Next Race |
5th, Ontario Fashion S. Presented by Tanqueray |
|||||
| 13 |
|
Metaphysical American Freedom |
0.00 |
10th, Ontario Matron S. |
Entered | |
|
Last Race Next Race |
10th, Ontario Matron S. |
|||||
| 14 |
|
Storm Miami Blue Point |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
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