Friday, July 04, 2008
Fraser goes for third Ontario Damsel aboard Nite in Rome
Nite in Rome will make a belated three-year-old debut in Sunday's $150,000 Ontario Damsel Stakes at Woodbine.
The turf event, which is restricted to Ontario-foaled fillies, has attracted a field of seven.
The E.P. Taylor Turf Course may be all that the Mark Casse-trained Nite in Rome needs to return to the races running. In two career starts on the lawn, the Ontario-bred has one win and one runner-up finish.
The daughter of Harlan's Holiday may also have another intangible working in her favor on Sunday. She'll be partnered for the first time by jockey Corey Fraser, who has a knack for winning this race.
Fraser first won the Ontario Damsel in 2004, aboard Bob Tiller-trained Velvet Snow.
"Velvet Snow was my first career stakes win," recalled Fraser, who is going for his third win in the 6 1/2-furlong dash. "It was a small field and we beat Financingavailable - one of the few times she was beat."
Fraser returned to the Ontario Damsel winner's circle in 2005, guiding Top Ten List to a wire-to-wire score, also for Tiller and co-owner Frank DiGiulio. Last year, Fraser finished fourth aboard Pugilistic.
Fraser said he looks forward to teaming with Nite in Rome and taking a shot at the Ontario Damsel hat trick.
He would join Brian Swatuk, Robin Platts, Don Seymour, Robert Landry and Patrick Husbands as the only riders to capture the event on three occasions.
The Ontario Damsel is slated for race six on Sunday's 10-race programme.
ONTARIO DAMSEL STAKES
POST - HORSE - JOCKEY - TRAINER
1 - Krz Exec - Jerry Baird - Michael DePaulo
2 - Shilla - David Clark - Nicholas Gonzalez
3 * Anne's Purse - Eurico Rosa da Silva - Earl Barnett
4 - Gloriously - Patrick Husbands - Mark Casse
5 - Black Mink - Emile Ramsammy - Mike DePaulo
6 - Nite in Rome - Corey Fraser - Mark Casse
7 - Running Single - David Garcia - Pat Parente
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