Sophomore Fillies Look to Make Grade in Selene

Gale Force (green cap) | WEG/Burns

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A well-matched group of 10 sophomore fillies comprise Sunday's GIII Selene S. at Woodbine. Gale Force (Giant's Causeway–Sealy Hill), one of three representing the powerhouse Mark Casse barn, is the lone graded winner of the bunch, having defeated another stablemate on debut in the GII Mazarine S. over track and trip in October. Off the board in grass tries at Churchill and Gulfstream, she returned to this venue to settle for second behind British stakes-placed Grizzel (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) in a local allowance Apr. 28. Fellow Casse runner Enstone (Tiznow) broke through emphatically by a six-length margin here last October after knocking on the door, and was a pacesetting second behind 19-1 Ghostly Presence (Ghostzapper) in the prestigious Princess Elizabeth S. in November. She defeated Financial Recovery (Street Cry {Ire}) in the seven-panel Fury S. here Apr. 30. Casse's third entrant is Superduper Sky (Sky Mesa), who cut back off a distant fourth in a one-mile grassy stakes race at Fair Grounds Feb. 11 to take a 5 1/2-panel optional claimer here Apr. 22. Well-bred Silhouette (Smart Strike) looks to provide conditioner Josie Carroll with back-to-back Selenes–she took last year's renewal with fast-finishing Gamble's Ghost (Ghostzapper). The dark bay finished close to several nice runners in prior efforts before donning cap and gown by four lengths over seven eighths here Apr. 23. The daughter of GSW Serenading (A. P. Indy) and granddaughter of 1995 Selene heroine Daijin (Deputy Minister) hails from the family of the likes of Touch Gold, With Approval, Brilliant Speed and Saturday's GI Preakness S. competitor Conquest Mo Money (Uncle Mo).

 

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