Silent Causeway Seeks Stakes Laurels in Ontario Matron

Silent Causeway , trained and owned by Laura Krasauskaite, looks to keep her strong recent form going in the $150,000 Ontario Matron Stakes (G3) Oct. 22 at Woodbine.

The 1 1/16-mile main track feature for fillies and mares, 3-years-old and upward, has drawn 10 starters, including Krasauskaite's 5-year-old dark bay mare.

After a tough start to her 2022 campaign, Silent Causeway has turned things around in a big way, posting two wins and a second in her past three starts.

One of those victories, a seven-furlong test over the Toronto oval Tapeta Aug. 11, was a roll of the dice for Krasauskaite.

"I am extremely happy with her last three races. The one on August 11, the $25,000 claiming race, I took a big chance there. I needed to race her there because she needed a mind boost, something to get her confidence going.

"I knew that we would have a huge chance to win the race, but I just gambled by putting her in there. I was a nervous wreck. You have no idea. There were so many people staring at her, and I wasn't sure if someone would enter a claim. But she won and it boosted her mind."

A head victory the next time out at 1 1/16 miles on the Woodbine main track was followed by a second, just a half-length back of the winner, in a mile trip over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course Oct. 1.

On Oct. 15, Silent Causeway covered four furlongs in :46.2 on the Tapeta ahead of the Ontario Matron.

"After that ($25,000) claimer, you could see a difference in her. She dragged us home, bouncing and snorting after the race. I thought, 'That's a good sign, finally.' She was back to her old self. I spend every day with this horse, and I can tell when she's down and when she's feeling good. And she's definitely feeling good."

The fall weather has also put a spring in Silent Causeway's step, but not Krasauskaite's.

"She does not like the heat, not at all. Now, you see how she trains. She's calm, she's focused and she's happy. When the weather is cooler and it happens to be raining, it's game on for her. She's like a rain and cold air child. Me, I want to head south. Her, she wants to stay north."

Both are primed for Saturday's engagement.

"I breezed her in that last work and she took me on the ride of a lifetime. It was amazing. I know she's ready."

Other starters include multiple graded stakes winner Our Flash Drive , the 4-year-old Live Oak homebred who returns to Woodbine off two turf stakes appearances at Saratoga Race Course, including a victory in the Fasig-Tipton De La Rose Stakes Aug. 7.

Dreaming of Drew , a multiple stakes winner for owners Hoolie Racing Stable and Madaket Stables, sports a mark of 4-3-1 from 11 starts. The 4-year-old daughter of Speightster   is trained by Barbara Minshall.

Completing the field is Broadway Lady , Kate's Kingdom , Ms Vancougar , Alydiva , Peace Seeker , Super Chianti , and Saratoga Vision .