Trainer Mike De Paulo is hoping a couple of changes with Code Warrior add up to a walk to the winner’s circle in Sunday’s $175,000 Bessarabian Stakes (Grade 2) at Woodbine Racetrack, a seven-furlong sprint that’s drawn 14 starters.
The five-year-old daughter of Society’s Chairman heads into the Bessarabian Stakes off a fourth-place finish in the Grade 3 Ontario Fashion Stakes on October 28, and a lacklustre seventh-place finish in the Grade 2 Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes on September 17.
| Entry | Horse | ML Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kasuga | 12-1 | Jesse Campbell 117 Lbs |
Nicholas Gonzalez |
| 2 | Let It Ride Mom | 12-1 | Jerome Lermyte 119 Lbs |
Mark Casse |
| 3 | Ladies Night | 20-1 | Steven Bahen 114 Lbs |
Gail Cox |
| 4 | Malibu Bonnie | 12-1 | Jerome Lermyte 117 Lbs |
Mark Casse |
| 5 | Silent Sonet | 6-1 | David Moran 119 Lbs |
Nicholas Gonzalez |
| 6 | Red Explosion | 20-1 | Kazushi Kimura 117 Lbs |
Sid Attard |
| 7 | Code Warrior | 10-1 | Alan Garcia 119 Lbs |
Michael De Paulo |
| 8 | Sugar Jones | 20-1 | Ademar Santos 117 Lbs |
Michael Mattine |
| 9 | Jessica Krupnick | 3-1 | Rafael Hernandez 117 Lbs |
Norman McKnight |
| 10 | Alnilah | 20-1 | Kirk Johnson 117 Lbs |
Danny O’Callaghan |
| 11 | Monte Crista | 20-1 | Gary Boulanger 114 Lbs |
Michael Trombetta |
| 12 | Moonlit Promise | 4-1 | Eurico Da Silva 119 Lbs |
Josie Carroll |
| 13 | My Miss Tapit | 12-1 | Luis Contreras 117 Lbs |
Norman McKnight |
| 14 | Red Cabernet | 20-1 | Emma-Jayne Wilson 117 Lbs |
Ian Black |
| 15 | Mexican Hat | 20-1 | Omar Moreno 117 Lbs |
Catherine Day Phillips |
De Paulo is hoping to see the type of performance Code Warrior put forth in the Seaway Stakes on August 26, when the Florida-bred took all the spoils in the Grade 3 event.
She’ll be sporting a new look and a new jockey for the Bessarabian.
“Her last race was a little disappointing,” noted De Paulo, who won the race in 2013 with Part the Seas. “The last time she ran seven-eighths, she won. We’re hoping that will happen again. We’re taking the blinkers off and we’ll have Alan Garcia riding, just to shake it up a bit.”
A lifetime winner of seven races from 23 starts, Code Warrior has three wins on the season, including a victory in the Abundantia Stakes on New Year’s Day at Gulfstream. She’s also won the Grade 3 Hendrie Stakes and the aforementioned Seaway.
“We went to Presque Isle off a big race at Woodbine and that might have just set her back a little,” offered De Paulo. “So, we’re hoping she can put forth a championship performance this time. She’s definitely capable.”
Owned by Zilli Racing Stables, Code Warrior has produced 14 top-three finishes and more than $400,000 in purse earnings.
The dark bay launched her career at Golden Gate in 2015, netting the natural hat trick in her first three starts.
On Sunday, she’ll have her hands full with several strong rivals, including last year’s Bessarabian champ, Moonlit Promise.
De Paulo, a lifetime winner of 813 races, believes Code Warrior will be at the top of her stakes game.
“With the blinkers off, hopefully that will settle her a touch,” said De Paulo. “She’s a hard-trying filly and she’s a really pretty filly. She tries and she runs every jump of the race. I can’t take anything away from her.”
Code Warrior is also known for somewhat of a feisty temperament away from the races.
“Off the track, she’s got a little bit of personality,” said De Paulo. “She’ll take a little nip at you.”
Last year, Moonlit Promise, with Gary Boulanger aboard, took the race.
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