Sunday May 3rd, 2009 - The Fury Stakes, Three-Year-Old Fillies, Foaled in Ontario, Seven Furlongs

History Lesson: Originally raced at Fort Erie Racetrack in 1956, the Fury Stakes has been run from distances of six to seven furlongs. The race has become a prep for the Woodbine Oaks and has seen past winners go on to win the Canadian Classic. In fact, there were twelve Fury Stakes champions to win the Oaks including Wonder Where in '59, Square Angel in '73, four winners in the 1980's, with the likes of Avowal in '82 and Classy 'n' Smart in'84, four more winners in the 1990's, containing fillies Capdiva in '97 and Kirby's Song in '98. The last Fury champ to go on to win the Oaks was in 2004 as Eye of the Sphynx, by Smart Strike, would accomplish the feat. Currently run at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, the event runs at a distance of seven furlongs on the synthetic polytrack with a purse of $150,000.

The Fury Stakes '09: The eighth race on Sunday May 3rd's card, at the Toronto oval, features eight fillies. The field lacks significant stakes company, but should prove to be an exciting race as there are some very talented sophomores here. The likes of High Mist, Deeveetee and Mullins Beach should take in most of the attention from the handicappers, though it is a wide open race and anyone of these fillies can take the wire.

Here's a look at the field by post position:

1 Not Just a Rumor by Yes It's True out of Highland Mood(Highland Ruckus) Own: Hali Stable and Norseman Racing Stable, Trainer: Sid C. Attard, Jockey: Patrick Husbands

2 Wood Smoke by Langfuhr out of Forest Flute(Woodman) Own: Gustav Schickedanz, Trainer: Michael Keogh, Jockey: Tyler Pizarro

3 Deeveetee by Doneraile Court out of Diamonds to Me(Belong to Me) Own: Ryan S. Afonso, Trainer: Mark Casse, Jockey: Jono Jones

4 Gigolette by Northern Afleet out of Twochindordor(Vice Regent) Own: R.F. and J.E. Shaw, Trainer: David R. Bell, Jockey: Chantal Sutherland

5 Forcefully by Grand Slam out of Talk Back(Talkin Man) Own: Kinghaven Farms, Trainer: Ian Black, Jockey: Corey Fraser

6 Pretty Katherine by Vindication out of Indigene(Deputy Minister) Own: W. DeBurgh, Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings, Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer, Jockey: Gerry Olguin

7 Mullins Beach by Speightstown out of Treasure Beach(Silver Deputy) Own: Melnyk Racing Stables Inc., Trainer: Malcolm Pierce, Jockey: Eurico Rosa Da Silva

8 High Mist by Olmodaver out of High Humidity(Petionville) Own: N.C. Stables, Wendy Anderson, B. Weisbord, Trainer: Reade Baker, Jockey: Jim McAleney

The Skinny: As mentioned above, this race lacks serious stakes contenders, though it has a good mix of fillies that are very lightly raced to experienced sophomores. Anything can happen here and probably will. Let's start with the inexperienced girls shall we.

Wood Smoke is a good looking individual who will see her first stakes action in her second lifetime race. She looked sharp in her debut against maiden special weight company, posting a 77 Beyer, in a stretch run that would see her get up late to the wire, winning by one and one-quarter length. Keogh's barn has looked good in the early going this season and may upset here with Tyler Pizarro aboard. Wood Smoke gets a half furlong more to work with and should benefit. The two hole will be a tough starting point, though the young daughter of Langfuhr will probably not look to go to the lead. Watch for a late rally.

Sid Attard sends out Not Just a Rumor. Doesn't appear to be a rumor, this little filly can run. In her first lifetime start, April 10th/09, she would stalk the pace and come wide on the turn, eventually drawing away from the field by open lengths for the win. Not Just a Rumor has only faced maiden company, just as her rival Wood Smoke, and she had only run five furlongs in that event. The distance may not be as much of a problem here as the inside post position has the Attard student coming from the one hole. She posted an 80 Beyer in her debut and put up a very nice final time of :57.20. Don't like the post, but, she could still be dangerous.

Gigolette is sent out by Dave Bell for her second start off the shelf. She only raced once as a two-year-old, picking up the win at a distance of three-quarters of a mile in a maiden special weight test. She had a slow start in her last race, against allowance company, but looked good coming down the stretch, rallying for a second place finish. That event was only five-eighths of a mile and she should look forward to stretching out here. Gigolette looks as though she will try to come from off the pace with regular rider Chantal Sutherland up. Though she is coming off a 62 Beyer in her last start, it does not indicate the young filly's true speed. Could pick up a cheque here.

Windhaven Farms owned Forcefully will also get her second start of the '09 campaign. She did not fare overly well in the La Voyageuse Stakes against foes Mullins Beach, High Mist and ship-in Pretty Katherine. She tried to stalk the pace, only to tire down the home stretch. Forcefully only has two lifetime starts, with earnings just over 30k, and she has never gone over five furlongs. It's hard to say how she will handle the distance of the Fury as she had rallied for a win, driving to the wire, while breaking her maiden last November and her last start may demonstrate that Forcefully needed a race to get fit. Tough spot for this filly.

Deeveetee is coming off an upset loss to Milwaukee Appeal in the April 19th Star Shoot Stakes. The Mark Casse trainee had a tough race there, getting boxed in only to find room for a late rally down the stretch. She would finish second out by one and three-quarters of a length. She is a very experienced horse in comparison to her foes in this event. In nine lifetime starts Deeveetee has accrued earnings of $131,525, but has never won in stakes company. She will probably take a lot of money on the tote board and coming out of the three hole and she may look to stay up with the front runners to avoid being boxed in again around the turn. Deeveetee has never bested rival High Mist and will look forward to the opportunity with the distance of seven furlongs going in her favor here. She rarely misses the board, second choice.

Jerry Hollendorfer had shipped in Pretty Katherine earlier this season for the La Voyageuse. The young daughter of Vindication would finish fifth in that event with a mild gain down the stretch. Again, she is another competitor who should gain an advantage from the distance of seven-eighths of a mile. She has hit the board four of six lifetime races with earnings over 60k and should be tough in this event. She can run at the front or come from behind as first-time rider Gerry Olguin and Hollendorfer will have to read the field. She has speed and has been consistent in her Beyer figures, with a high mark of 82. Should improve off her first Woodbine start.

Malcolm Pierce always seems to have a gamer in stakes competition at Woodbine as he sends out La Voyageuse winner Mullins Beach. Eurico Rosa Da Silva is aboard for the first time since October '08, but, he is having a solid season and should be a positive influence for handicappers. Mullins Beach posted a very respectable 79 Beyer last time out in her front running romp. The distance here should play no negative factor for the daughter of Speightstown as she had won at the span of seven furlongs in breaking her maiden with Da Silva up. With earnings of $127,369 and an impressive record of 6-3-0-1, Mullins Beach could be a top choice in the morning line, if not the favorite by post-time. Look for a top three finish here.

High Mist and Jimmy Mac will look to improve off their last start together in the La Voyageuse Stakes. A very game show finish had High Mist with an inside trip, behind horses, which would give rival Mullins Beach the opportunity to draw clear for the win. However, the Baker pupil is clearly the one to beat here. She has the most earnings lifetime with $154,204 and has never missed a cheque in her five career starts. High Mist has also been the favorite in each of those five events. Look for her to get to the front early, coming from the outside post, as she should really benefit from the seven furlongs of the Fury and could go wire to wire as she has proven she can, though, expect her to stalk the front runner, looking to pass in the stretch drive. Should be first choice again, she's the class of the field.

My Picks: 8-3-2

Please feel free to leave your comments and picks for the 54th running of the Fury Stakes.