Venencia Stretches Out, Tackles Males in Singspiel

Stakes-winning mare Venencia  not only faces males, but tries the 1 3/8-mile trip for the first time in the CA$150,000 Singspiel Stakes (G3T) at Woodbine. 

A French-bred daughter of Recoletos , Venencia was fourth last time out in the E. P. Taylor Stakes (G1T) Aug. 16 in her debut for trainer Michael Doyle. Previously trained by Chad Brown, the mare has run triple-digit Equibase Speed Figures in her last four starts, including when beaten a neck for the win in Woodbine's Canadian Stakes (G2T) July 20.

Campaigned by Bradley Thoroughbreds, Laura Leigh Stable, Jim Cone, Belmar Racing and Breeding, Team Hanley, and Cambron Equine, Venencia hasn't had her photo taken since capturing the Forever Together Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack last November.

Jockey Sahin Civaci has the call on Venencia, who draws in with a weight allowance of 118 pounds while her male counterparts tote 121-122 pounds.

While the winner of the Aug. 2 Niagara Stakes, Stanley House , is absent from the field, the second-, third-, and fourth-place finishers—Dancin in Da'nile , Roscar , and Legal Catch —all head the local cast for the Singspiel. 

Roscar, a Chiefswood Stables homebred trained by Rachel Halden, will be seeking his first victory since scoring a 1 1/2-length triumph in the September 2024 Breeders' Stakes at Woodbine. 

The other contenders include Euro invader Haunted Dream  and the Mark Casse-trained Tosen Wish .