June 15, 2016
As successful a trainer, and aptly named, as Canadian Racing has been over the years, they have never taken victory in the Queens Plate Stakes or the WO Oaks but on Sunday afternoon, that all changed when Ena Barb stormed down the inside rail and upset Mint Condition for the second stakes win of her budding career. A daughter of Barbarino from Grade I winner Numero Ena, she flew to victory in the Lady Angela back in early May and passed her two-turn test with flying colours, earning a solid 94-speed rating while pushing her seasonal earnings to almost $400.000.
The two inside runners in the WO Oaks broke slowly but Pinot Gris (16.90) did not and the veteran three-year-old found herself on the lead into the first turn with favourite Mint Condition (*1.10) to her inside and huge longshot Will Not Collapse (116.45) outside. Those three set the tone for the race but Pinot Gris had the most to say and held her own around the bend with the favourite sitting chilly in second, and Panther Prowl (11.05) tough back in fourth with a three-wide trip. The two leaders opened up almost three-lengths through the half-mile in 47.97 and remained at odds with each other passing the six-furlong marker in 1:11.60, where Mint Condition seized command and tried to sprint for home. As the field moved around the far turn, the favourite was in full stride with Will Not Collapse actually sitting pretty in third along the rail and Pinot Gris trying to mount a minor comeback but with a furlong to run, the best chance of running down Mint Condition came from Ena Barb (1.65), last early but coming on strong. Still with two-lengths to make up and a slowing pace up front, the inside starter found a seam through traffic and came up with the goods in the last two strides to nip Mint Condition for all the money, with the favourite doing all the dirty work but getting second-money after a grueling nine-furlongs. Pinot Gris held well for third while Will Not Collapse salvaged a minor cheque in fourth, just ahead of a wide Panther Prowl and a disappointing Love In The Mist (4.25), who never got involved despite solid back class.
A stakes winner of the Lady Angela, Ena Barb lived up to her huge pedigree potential and became a true superstar Sunday afternoon with a score in the WO Oaks, emulating dam Numero Ena in her win with the KY Oaks back in 2012. She now heads to the Bison City Stakes over a slightly shorter distance knowing that class is in her corner, and also understanding that if she chooses, she can still enter the Queens Plate and try to duplicate the feat of Vouvray back in that same 2012 campaign.
Congratulations goes out to owner Canadian Racing and their three-year-old filly Ena Barb, a last-to-first winner of the WO Oaks!
Prediction Mint Condition / Ena Barb / Love In The Mist
Winner Ena Barb
Three-year-old bay filly
Barbarino-Numero Ena (Octagonal)
Owner Canadian Racing
Time 47.97, 1:11.60, 1:35.99, 1:48.83 (NSR)
Overall
Ena Barb 1.65 broke slowly, waited, up in time
Mint Condition *1.10 pressed inside, clear into stretch, caught
Pinot Gris 16.90 set pace, evened out final furlong
Will Not Collapse 116.45 inside run, minor threat
Panther Prowl 11.05 wide throughout
Love In The Mist 4.25 outrun
Triple T Racing 🙂
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded
