Lady Alexandra to Take on Boys in Nearctic Stakes

As the only filly in a field of 11 slated for the $250,000 Nearctic Stakes (G2T) Oct. 13 at Woodbine, Heider Family Stables' Lady Alexandra will have her work cut out for her. 

Making her third foray into graded company in the six-furlong Nearctic, Lady Alexandra started the year strong with a win in the April 29 License Fee Stakes at Belmont Park before shipping north to Woodbine to contest the June 30 Highlander Stakes (G1T). While the Graham Motion trainee managed to take control in the stretch, she was caught by a hard-running Long On Value at the wire and was bested by a neck. 

After a nearly three-month rest, Lady Alexandra entered the Sept. 17 Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes (G2). Pressing the pace on the outside from the break, the 4-year-old seemed to tire and retreated as the field entered the stretch. She finished ninth, more than eight lengths behind the winner. 

Lady Alexandra, who will break from post 6 under jockey Jose Ortiz, is cross-entered in the Oct. 13 Floral Park Stakes at Belmont.

Trainer Mike Maker will attempt to have all the bases covered in the Nearctic with a trio of runners Saturday. 

Taking the rail trip will be Hemp Hemp Hurray who at 3 is the youngest competitor in the field. Owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, the son of Artie Schiller has finished second in his two previous starts—the King Corrie Stakes and Ontario Jockey Club Stakes, both at Woodbine. The colt will run as the lightweight in the field and will partner with jockey Rafael Hernandez. 

Stablemate and fellow Ramsey-owned horse Kitten's Cat will make his first step up to graded company since finishing ninth in the American Turf Stakes Presented by Ram Trucks (G2T) last year at Churchill Downs. The 4-year-old son of Kitten's Joy  has competed exclusively at Woodbine since May and enters off a win in a Sept. 3 optional-claiming allowance race over the Nearctic distance. 

Last in the lineup for Maker is 4-year-old Hembree. The dark bay son of Proud Citizen makes his first trip to the Ontario track in 20 starts and enters off an optional-claiming allowance win Sept. 13 at Kentucky Downs. The Kentucky-bred will break from post 4 under Irad Ortiz Jr. 

Mark Casse will send out his own duo in the form of Holding Gold and Conquest Panthera. The geldings are looking for their first graded win of the year. 

Ikerrin Road will also contest the race for trainer Vito Armata. The Irish-bred son of Iffraaj will be making his 15th start at Woodbine. 

The oldest runner in the field will be Ontario-bred Sweet Little Man. The 8-year-old gelding has never raced outside of Woodbine and is seeking his first graded victory for owner Joey Gee Thoroughbreds and trainer Jim Ensom. 

Entries: Nearctic S. (G2T)

Woodbine, Saturday, October 13, 2018, Race 7

• Grade IIT
• 6f
• Turf
• $250,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 4:30 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Hemp Hemp Hurray (ON)	Rafael Manuel Hernandez	113	Michael J. Maker	20/1
2	2Kitten's Cat (KY)	Eurico Rosa Da Silva	119	Michael J. Maker	12/1
3	3Yorkton (ON)	Jesse M. Campbell	121	Stuart C. Simon	5/2
4	4Hembree (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	119	Michael J. Maker	10/1
5	5Bushrod (AZ)	Adam Beschizza	119	Judd Becker	20/1
6	6Lady Alexandra (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	116	H. Graham Motion	5/1
7	7Holding Gold (FL)	John R. Velazquez	121	Mark E. Casse	7/2
8	8Conquest Panthera (KY)	Joe Bravo	121	Mark E. Casse	6/1
9	9Ikerrin Road (IRE)	Ademar Santos	119	Vito Armata	20/1
10	10Sweet Little Man (ON)	Luis Contreras	119	Jim Ensom	10/1
11	11Singandcryindubai (ON)	Gary Boulanger	119	Denyse McClachrie	20/1