Probable Grade 2 Woodford Reserve Lake Placid favorite Winter Memories completed major
preparations for next Sunday’s race with a “perfect” 49.78
four-furlong breeze on the Oklahoma turf course this morning with regular rider
Jose Lezcano aboard.
“She went off in :13 and a tick, :25 and change, :38, and :49 4/5,”
said trainer Jimmy Toner. “So she went the last eighth in :11 4/5. We
wanted her to relax early, and everything she did was perfect. It was exactly
what we wanted. She had a pretty serious breeze last week [five furlongs on the
turf in 59.29]. We didn’t want any 47s. We wanted her nice and relaxed
and comfortable.”
Owned by Phillips Racing Partnership, Winter Memories has rattled off
four graded stakes victories, including an easy triumph in the Grade 2 Lake
George at Saratoga
on July 27. Toner said the 3-year-old daughter of El Prado is eager to vie for
her fifth graded score.
“She’s pretty sharp. She knows what’s coming,”
said Toner. “We schooled her the other day, and she’s pretty good
in the paddock, but going home she was a little ticked off because she
didn’t get to run.”