Leading Edge Heads Princess Elizabeth

The well-heeled Leading Edge, winner of a maiden race last time out at Woodbine at 3-10, certainly has the pedigree to star in the $250,000 Princess Elizabeth Stakes for Canadian-foaled 2-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles Nov. 2 at Woodbine.



Chiefswood Stable's homebred filly is a daughter of runaway leading sire Tapit   out of Essential Edge, by Storm Cat. Chiefswood homebred Essential Edge won the Canadian Stakes (Can-IIT) in 2007 over eventual Canadian Horse of the Year Sealy Hill and also won two other stakes over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course at Woodbine.

Leading Edge was third in her debut, a six-furlong event Aug. 23 over the Polytrack, but moved forward with additional ground—one mile, 70 yards—Sept. 21 to break her maiden by three-quarters of a length for trainer Paul Attard.



Chiefswood won the 2012 Princess Elizabeth Stakes with 2013 Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser winner Nipissing.



Leading Edge faces some more experienced fillies in the form of Brooklynsway and Quidi Vidi.



J. R. Racing Stable's Brooklynsway, trained by John Ross, has made four starts and all have been against stakes company at Woodbine. The daughter of Giant Gizmo  —Explosive Story, by Radio Star was third in both the Shady Well and Nandi stakes prior to winning the 6 1/2-furlong Muskoka Stakes Aug. 27, topping Quidi Vidi.

In her latest effort Brooklynsway was second to Conquest Harlanate in the Oct. 5 Mazarine Stakes (Can-III) at the Princess Elizabeth trip. Conquest Harlanate goes Oct. 31 in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (gr. IT) at Santa Anita Park.



Quidi Vidi, owned and trained by Lorna Perkins, was fourth in the Mazarine after her runnerup effort in the Muskoka. The daughter of Marcavelly is out of the Canadian stakes-placed El Tara, by Schossberg. She was bred in Ontario by Hill 'n' Dale Farms.



Shez a Masterpiece, owned by Gary Barber and trained by Mark Casse was an $80,000 claim first time out in July at Del Mar. She broke her maiden last time out around two turns at Woodbine Oct. 12. By Mast Track  , Shez a Masterpiece is out of Thoroughly Holy, who set a track record at 2 winning the five-furlong P.G. Johnson Stakes at Meadowlands in 2009 (:55.39).