Sunday June 7th, 2009 - Alywow Stakes, Three-Year-Old Fillies, Six & One-Half Furlongs

History Lesson: The Alywow Stakes is an overnight stakes event that is run in honor of the Champion Three-Year-Old Filly, Champion Turf Horse, and Champion Horse of the Year in Canada in 1994. Alywow was euthanized in 2002, the same year of the race's inaugural running which was won by Lush Soldier. The race is run at Woodbine Racetrack over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course at a distance of six and one-half furlongs. The record time was set in 2008 by Passion in a time of 1:14.39.

Alywow Stakes, 2009: Normally an overnight stakes event is not covered by T.T.T.I., however, this race is an exception as it is run on Woodbine Oaks day and has a very nice field of fillies such as '09 Fury Stakes winner Woodsmoke and ship-ins Fleet Streak and Pull Dancer. The field of nine three-year-old fillies should to the excitement on Oaks day at Woodbine.

Here is a look at the field by post position:

1 Fleet Streak by More Than Ready out of Falconese (Imperial Falcon) Own: Elite Racing Company, Trainer: David Carroll, Jockey: Emma-Jayne Wilson

2 After the Applause by Lost Soldier out of Cades Cove (Kayrawan) Own: Tucci Stables, Trainer: Nick Gonzalez, Jockey: Eurico Rosa Da Silva

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

4 Woodsmoke by Langfuhr out of Forest Flute (Woodman) Own: Gustav Schickendanz, Trainer: Michael Keogh, Jockey: Tyler Pizarro

5 Essence of Silver by Essence of Dubai out of Never Been Kissed (Silver Deputy) Own: Norseman Racing Stable, Trainer: John Mattine, Jockey: Gerry Olguin

6 Retraceable by Medaglia D'oro out of Embraceable (Dehere) Own: Quintessential Racing and Richard and Patricia Lenhian, Trainer: Mark Casse, Jockey: Patrick Husbands

7 Pull Dancer by Pulpit out of Mayhavebeentheone (Arch) Own: Cam Allard, Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin, Jockey: Alan Garcia

8 Elision by Elustre Quality out of Alternate (Seattle Slew) Own: Pin Oak Stable, Jockey: James McAleney

9 Mommie Whiz by City Zip out of Sneak Out (Belong to Me) Own: Whizway Farm, Trainer: Steven Asmussen, Jockey: Luis Contreras

The Skinny: It's been said before that these overnight events are like glorified allowance races, but, this race is still intriguing to the horse fan and the gambler with a favorite in Woodsmoke and the fact that every other filly in here looks to have a legitimate chance at taking the wire.

Woodsmoke should be the favorite in the morning-line and even by post time. She is a true sprinter with early and lasting speed throughout. She is two for three lifetime; throw her last start out as it was more of an experimental race going two-turns. This daughter of Langfuhr broke her maiden at this distance in her first career race, coming from behind, only to become a front end speedster in her second start and win in the Fury Stakes on May 3rd over the Woodbine poly. This will be her first try on the grass and she looks as though she will handle the surface as far as breeding goes. Pizarro knows this horse well enough that she will go to the lead and pretty much try to wire the field. The outfit is clicking at 21% this season at Woodbine and looks very good on this day with Woodsmoke. Have to take her on top of the rest.

Fleet Streak is an invader from the south, sent out by conditioner David Carroll. She was unraced as a two-year-old and has started her career off racing out of the Fairgrounds and Churchill Downs. She is 3-1-1-0 with earnings of just over 38k and all three of her races have come over the turf. She has posted decent Beyers in the low-eighties in her last two starts and should look to improve here on this day. Her last work would be at Churchill over the main track going four furlongs in :50. flat. She has been off for a little over a month so she should be very sharp and may very well come from off the pace with her bid to the wire.

Jockey Alan Garcia comes back to Woodbine for his second go this season aboard ship-in Pull Dancer. This chestnut filly has moved around a bit since starting her career as a two-year-old racing at tracks in the east like Belmont, Keenland, Gulfstream and Aqueduct. She is 6-2-1-0 lifetime with $73,965 in her account thus far and she would post her best Beyer of 89 in her last start over the Belmont turf course in a six furlong allowance event on April 29th. The McLaughlin student looks like she will be off the leaders a bit before making her bid for home. Good shot here.

Mommie Whiz has been an absolute money maker for trainer Steve Asmussen since she's been a two-year-old. Even as a maiden she would pick up cheques with six top-five finishes. She would break her maiden, while wintering at the Fairgrounds, on March 1st, 2009 over the turf and then came to Woodbine for the start of the '09 season where she is 3-1-2-0 with the win coming over the E.P. Taylor turf course at six and a half furlongs. Mommie Whiz has posted Beyers in the eighties over her last three starts, all at Woodbine, and should be very tough on this day though she comes from the outside post. Can expect her to be in contention throughout the race. Don't leave her out.

Elision is sent out by trainer Malcolm Pierce and, like foe Mommie Whiz, has done nothing but make money. She has a record of 6-1-3-2 and earnings over 70k all of which would come over the grass. She would come up short of rival Mommie Whiz in her last start May 22nd, as she would run into some traffic in the homestretch. She appears to come from off the pace with late energy for the final push to the wire. Should be a factor late.

Gigolette will get her fourth start of the '09 campaign and will look to continue to impress in her first career turf race. Conditioner Dave Bell has had success in first time starters on the sod with an 11% in 9 tries. Gigolette gets Chantal Sutherland aboard again and she is on a hot streak as of late. Together the duo have amassed a 4-2-1-0 record with earnings of $74,250. In their last start the would stay just off the front runners only to drive clear of their rivals in the final eighth of a mile picking up the win in the allowance event. Gigolette did not fair well in her first stakes try in the Fury finishing over ten lengths back of the eventual winner and rival here, Woodsmoke. In tough on this day, but, you never can tell with firsters on the grass.

John Mattine takes over duties, after the passing of his father and Woodbine great Tony Mattine, for Essence of Silver. She has accrued over 100k with a record of 7-2-2-1. This will be the filly's third start from the layoff this season and follows up a win against allowance company on May 9th, where she would best foe After the Applause in the six furlong event. This filly is one for one over the grass when she would break her maiden as a two-year-old in '08. Essence of Silver will get her third jock in as many starts here, as the mid-pack runner makes her first jump up into stakes company. She has yet to post a Beyer over 69 this season or over her last five starts for that matter. Looking elsewhere.

After the Applause will come into the Alywow for her second start of '09. She has had minimal success in stakes as a two-year-old with a second place finish in the Ontario Debutante and a game fourth in the Grade III Natalma over a soft E.P. Taylor turf course. She would finish second in her first start this year against allowance company losing to rival Essence of Silver and posting a mediocre 66 Beyer. She will need to improve drastically for conditioner Nick Gonzalez; who is having an exceptional 2009 at Woodbine, to get herself into the money here. She may stay up with other front runners in the early going, but may not have enough late against these foes.

Retraceable is making her '09 debut for trainer Mark Casse. She is a remarkable individual who would have a very good '08 campaign amassing a 5-2-2-0 record with earnings of over 200k. She will take a lot of money on the board on this day, most likely second choice to Woodsmoke. Though the outfit reeks of success, Casse does not click very well with firsters on the turf as Retraceable will give the E.P. Taylor course her first go. This may deter some gamblers from keeping her in the mix, but you can never count a Casse horse out, especially with the year rider Patrick Husbands is having. Keep your eye on this little lady.

My Picks: 4-7-9

Please feel free to leave your comments and picks for the 8th running of the Alywow Stakes.