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G2 Nassau Stakes: Catch a Glimpse and Caren renew rivalry

May 25, 2017

​TORONTO, May 25 – An epic battle will play out in Saturday’s $175,000 Grade 2 Nassau Stakes as Canada’s 2015 Horse of the Year Catch a Glimpse returns to Woodbine to take on the reigning HOTY, Caren, in the one-mile turf event.

Catch a Glimpse and Caren have met just once with the former providing the latter the only defeat of an otherwise perfect juvenile campaign when Catch a Glimpse took the Grade 2 Natalma with a front-running tour de force.
Catch a Glimpse, conditioned by Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse, took the Natalma as part of an eight-race win streak that also included scores in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf to complete a sparkling two-year-old campaign and continued on into a sophomore season to add four consecutive scores in Grade 3 turf events as well as a 1/2-length win in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational. For her juvenile exploits, ‘Glimpsey’ was named Canada’s 2015 Horse of the Year, Champion Grass Mare and Champion Two Year Old Filly.
The City Zip chestnut, bred in Kentucky by Branch Equine LLC and owned by Gary Barber, Michael Ambler, Michael James and Windways Farm, hasn’t won since the Belmont Oaks coup including a pair of starts in 2017. Florent Geroux ships in for the ride.
Caren, trained by Mike DePaulo for owner Robert Marzilli, won five of six juvenile starts and was unfortunate not to take home any year end honours after capturing the Shady Well, Nandi, Victorian Queen and Princess Elizabeth Stakes.
However, the Society’s Chairman bay, bred in Ontario by James A. Everatt, Janeane A. Everatt and J. Arika Everatt – Meeuse, improved with each start in 2016 posting a record of 4-2-1 from nine starts taking two-thirds of the filly Triple Tiara with victories in the Bison City and Wonder Where Stakes while adding a first graded win in the Grade 3 Ontario Colleen. The versatile Caren has won from 4 1/2-furlongs on the synthetic out to a mile and a quarter on the turf. She made her 2017 debut in the Grade 3 Whimsical Stakes when fifth, defeated a length, a nose and two necks. Jesse Campbell retains the mount.
Stormy Victoria, Involuntary, Shelbysmile, Southern Gem and Starship Jubilee complete the classy Nassau field.
A bumper Saturday card at Woodbine also includes the seven furlong Lady Angela Stakes for Ontario-sired sophomore fillies featuring Conquest Vivi, Little Christy and Fresh Princess.
Conquest Vivi, trained by Mark Casse for owner Stronach Stables, won her first three starts at Woodbine including scores in the Nandi and Victorian Queen Stakes. The Court Vision bay finished tenth in her seasonal debut in a difficult renewal of the Ginger Brew Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Patrick Husbands will ride on Saturday as Conquest Vivi makes her return to the Woodbine Tapeta over which she is undefeated.
Little Christy went undefeated in an abbreviated juvenile campaign for trainer Mike DePaulo graduating by 5 1/4-lengths on July 9 before returning on December 2 to notch a two-length score in a six furlong optional claiming sprint. The Silent Name bay finished a game second in her three-year-old debut when sprinting 5 1/2-furlongs. Leading rider Eurico Rosa da Silva has the call.
Fresh Princess, trained and part-owned by Tony M. Gattellaro, arrives at the Lady Angela from a visually impressive maiden win when hand-ridden to a 3 1/2-length score by da Silva. The Giant Gizmo chestnut endured troubled trips when second in her November 26 debut and again in her sophomore debut when third. David Moran takes over from da Silva on Saturday.
Tethra’s Magic, Silver Princess, Evil Woman, Princess Bullet and Lisa’s Escarpment complete the field.
The Lady Angela is slated as Race 6 while the Grade 2 Nassau will go as Race 8 on Saturday’s 10-race card. First post time is 1PM. Fans can watch and wager on all the action via HPIbet.com​.
FIELD FOR THE $175,000 GRADE 2 NASSAU STAKES
POST / HORSE / JOCKEY / TRAINER
1 / Stormy Victoria / Alan Garcia / Christophe Clement
2 / Catch a Glimpse / Florent Geroux / Mark Casse
3 / Involuntary / Gary Boulanger / Josie Carroll
4 / Caren / Jesse Campbell / Mike DePaulo
5 / Shelbysmile / David Moran / Brendan Walsh
6 / Southern Gem / Rafael Hernandez / Sid Attard
7 / Starship Jubilee / Eurico Rosa da Silva / Kevin Attard
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