Sav Seeks First Graded Win in Ontario Fashion Stakes

Steven Duffield's Sav, a 4-year-old daughter of Big Screen, will chase her second added-money title in the CA$125,000 Ontario Fashion Stakes (G3) Sept. 26 at Woodbine. A six-furlong main track event for fillies and mares 3 years old and up, the Ontario Fashion has attracted six starters.Trained by Ricky Griffith, Sav, who took last year’s La Prevoyante Stakes, will go after her second straight win after a half-length score over seven furlongs on the E.P. Taylor turf course Aug.15. Boasting a record of 5-6-1 from 14 starts, the gray filly—bred in Ontario by Spring Farm—has three wins, three seconds, and a third in her last seven outings. Sav began her career on a winning note, an authoritative 6 1/2-length victory on the Woodbine Tapeta in June of 2018. "That was very impressive," said Griffith. "She did it very professionally, and won it very easily. She won against the boys, so that was also impressive." Sav also reinforced what her trainer had known for some time leading up to her debut. "We knew she was a good one when we bought her as a yearling," said Griffith. "She had everything you were looking for. She was well balanced and strong. We liked her the moment we saw her." After a fifth in her second start, Sav concluded her juvenile campaign with a runner-up effort in the Shady Well Stakes. In 2019, Sav went 3-3-1 from eight starts. She launched her 4-year-old season June 13, finishing second to Sister Peacock in a seven-furlong race over the Toronto oval main track. Sav will break from the rail in the Ontario Fashion Stakes under Justin Stein. "We've been trying to keep her in the right company, and she's been very good us," said Griffith. "We'd really like to get a graded win with her or at least have her graded stakes placed. We like everything about her. She's a real sweetheart around the barn. She's very gentle with my 7-year-old daughter. We're very happy to have this horse." Brent McLellan, Russell McLellan, and Stuart Simon's Sister Peacock will enter the Ontario Fashion off back-to-back fifth-place runs in the July 18 Royal North Stakes (G2T) and Aug. 16 Seaway Stakes (G3) at Woodbine. Trained by Simon, the Real Solution filly's best efforts came in 2019 when she won the Star Shoot Stakes and William D. Graham Memorial Stakes at the Toronto track. Emma-Jayne Wilson will have the call on Sister Peacock from post 5.