The Seaway Stakes

7 Furlongs on Dirt Grade 3
Purse $150.00 For Fillies And Mares Three Years Old And Upward
Woodbine Racetrack Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Lady Sammyantha from The Sidley Stud needs no introduction to race fans as she has gone to the winner’s circle some twenty-one times during her fifty-eight appearances. In a dozen tries going two-turns she has only been there once, so you know that one turn is her thing and looking down at the form seven furlongs also suites this professional race mare to a glove, as she has rung the register a head spinning amount of times going the trip. Is she at her peak here, obviously not, as father time is now slowly catching up to her, but with one obvious target and only one other foe in the $1000 and up club, this clearly makes it her race to loose. She draws the rail, knows how to get around the track and it’s highly doubtful that if she hits the front at any point in this race that anybody can run her down from behind. Barossa Valley from Mo Mentum Farm is another professional race mare. The five year old is eyeballing her tenth win. Six of her nine wins have been going longer, but two of the three sprinting were at this trip to add to the intrigue here. She threw down a 45.1 half in her last start and will certainly not be coming from behind in this spot. She charts to get a perfect trip here and might put most of these foes to sleep. Devil Slayer from Maxmillion Farm just tried the top choice two starts back in the Vinery Madison and finished fifth while the top choice won. “Slayer” has hit some high octane numbers recently and should get some support here. Biggest question for me is the trip, as the aforementioned Vinery Madison was her only seven furlong appearance. Will need everything to go just right to threaten. Chilly from La Canada Racehorses runs consistent numbers, is clearly a sprinter and has traversed the distance well enough in the past to offer hope here. The four year old should be able to work out a good trip and if she is able to step up her game for this she just might surprise a few. From a betting perspective she might also get overlooked in here and offer more than ample value. The barn sports solid numbers again this year.

Of The Rest;

Viking Cat from Bigchief Stables comes out of two straight seven furlong races, both graded stakes where she won and ran third. She certainly has the right to do well here, especially on the bottom of your exotic wagers.

Neon Sara from TwinTowers Racing comes off back-to-back grade 1 appearances where she got roughed up by more seasoned competition. Drawn on the outside here, expect her to sit back and make one move going into the far turn. Not sure how much she can muster here, but I believe she can play ball on the lower rungs of your exotics with her best effort.

Grand Rover from Black N Gold Stable clearly wants this trip and has won three of her four victories doing just that. She has also run this trip in all but one of her 2026 races so far. She will close up towards the middle or finish of this heat, but the question is class level with her. Should offer stout value if you take the flyer on this four year old.

Shared Adversity, also from TwinTowers Racing is a major question mark here. The lightly raced four year old won two starts back going six furlongs while carving out all the fractions, then traversed this distance last time and showed no speed while running last. Not exactly a stellar set-up race to view while handicapping this much tougher assignment. I will have to pass.

Western Espresso from Nakamura Stables is a nice enough three year old filly with four wins on her resume, one of them a stakes victory. However, she has a lot to prove in this spot. Not only has she never seen an older mare, she certainly has never seen the likes of the competition here. She also has never gone this distance and those four wins were all going two-turns. A strange move, even for a barn of this caliber. Would be shocking to say the least.

-Trackman

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES