Nipissing looking to keep record perfect in Ashland

Chiefswood Stables' homebred Nipissing arrived at Keeneland

on Saturday with plans to begin her 2013 campaign in the 76th running of the

Grade 1, $500,000 Ashland on Saturday.

Nipissing is traveling the same road to the Ashland used

last year by another homebred Canadian filly, Hard Not to Like, who finished

second to Karlovy Vary in the 1 1/16-mile test.

Undefeated in four starts over the synthetic Polytrack at Woodbine last

year, Nipissing spent the winter at Payson Park Training Center in South Florida

after closing out her juvenile campaign with a four-length score in the South

Ocean on November 18.

"We gave her off six weeks at the end of last year and

started her back at the first of the year," said trainer Rachel Halden, who took

Nipissing out for some light exercise through light rain and fog at Keeneland Sunday

morning.

"At Payson, you definitely get a lot more out of them than

at other places. That is also why I opted to stay there for her final breeze

rather than coming here for it," Halden noted.

Nipissing worked five furlongs in 1:02 1/5 on Thursday,

her third five-eighths breeze of the month.

"I am very happy with where she is," said Halden, a former

assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Roger Attfield. "This is not the ideal

starting point, but her options were very limited and she had run through her

conditions. With Woodbine opening later than usual this year, we needed to get

her a start as our main objective is the Woodbine Oaks."

The Woodbine Oaks, the first leg of the Canadian Triple

Tiara, is scheduled for June 9 at 1 1/8 miles on Polytrack. Prior to that race,

sitting on May 3, is the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs.

"She is nominated to that," admitted Halden, who has been

training on her own for six years and has three horses currently stabled at

Keeneland. "If she were to

jump up and win here, maybe it would be a consideration."

Steve Bahen, who has been aboard Nipissing in her four starts, will have the

mount in the Ashland.

Magical Moon, third in last fall's Grade 1 Alcibiades at Keeneland, worked a half-mile in :48

on Saturday over the Polytrack under exercise rider Heather

Craig in preparation for a probable run in the Ashland.

Grade 3 Rachel Alexandra fourth-placer Every Way, another possible Ashland

runner, turned five furlongs in

1:01 4/5 on Saturday. The chestnut daughter of City Zip is also under consideration for the

Grade 3, $100,000 Appalachian

to be run at a mile on the turf

on April 18.

Spring Venture, winner of

the Grade 3 Mazarine on Polytrack last fall at Woodbine and recent heroine of

the OBS Championship (filly division), covered four furlongs in

a bullet :48 1/5 on Sunday under exercise rider Jason Hoyte in preparation for

the Ashland.

Also working toward a possible Ashland run on Sunday were the top three

finishers from Tampa Bay Downs' Grade 3 Florida Oaks on February 2.

Tapicat wired that 1 1/16-mile grass contest by 2 3/4 lengths, and on Sunday

recorded a four-furlong move in :48 on Payson Park's fast dirt. Stakes diva

Kitten's Dumplings, a rallying runner-up in the Florida Oaks, clocked a bullet

five furlongs in :59 4/5 on the fast dirt at Trackside Louisville, while

third-place runner Wave Theory logged a half-mile in :49 1/5 at Keeneland in company with

fellow sophomore filly Gustavia for trainer Chad Brown.

Spring in the Air, winner of last fall's Grade 1 Alcibiades, is the marquee

name on Keeneland Racing Secretary Ben Huffman's list of probable starters for

the Ashland. Trained by Mark Casse, Spring in the Air made her 2013 debut on

March 11 with a runner-up finish to stablemate Spring Venture in the OBS

Championship at Ocala, Florida.

The Alcibiades, inaugurated in 1952, is the marquee fall event for

two-year-old fillies at Keeneland. Only Doubledogdare (1955-56), Optimistic Gal

(1975-76), Silverbulletday (1998-99) and Take Charge Lady (2001-02) have come

back the following spring after their Alcibiades triumphs to win the Ashland,

with Optimistic Gal and Silverbulletday going on to win the Grade 1 Kentucky

Oaks after their Ashland victories.

Considered probable for the Ashland by Huffman are California Oaks queen

Redressthebalance and stakes vixen Tuttipaesi, who finished third in the Grade 3

Herecomesthebirde, as well as Adriani, Kyriaki and Liberty Girl.

Deemed as possible for the Ashland are stakes victress Finding More,

Herecomesthebride winner Kitten's Point, romping Suncoast diva Manuka Honey,

Miss Lucky Sevens and Grade 1 heroine Pure Fun, who just finished third in the

Grade 3 Bourbonette Oaks on March 23.

Entries for the Ashland will be taken Wednesday.

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