TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon

Snowbird Season

Like many Woodbine regulars, Katerina Vassilieva trainee Roaring Forties is making a habit of spending harsh Canadian winters in the Sunshine State.

The 8-year-gelding will make his second annual trip to Gulfstream this Sunday to defend his Sunshine Turf Stakes crown against six challengers. Last January, Roaring Forties and rider Shaun Bridgmohan delivered a near perfect run at 7-1 to score the $75,000 contest by a half-length over 3-1 rival Hot Blooded.

Coming off an uncharacteristic tenth last time out on Nov. 29, the Florida-native finds himself in an ideal spot for a bounceback performance.

Run it Back

A pair of up-and-comers are set to meet for the second time in as many races this Saturday at Fair Grounds.

Opening line favorite Track Phantom (9-5) will try to outduel Nash (5-2), once again, this time in the $200,000 Lecomte Stakes.

The dynamic 3-year-old duo last squared off on Dec. 23 in the Gun Runner, also at Fair Grounds, where Track Phantom took the top spot at 5-1. Nash, who closed as the 1-2 choice, finished in a distant third.

Overall, Track Phantom is 2-1-1 through four career starts, while Nash is 1-1-1 through three. Both competitors will be making their graded stakes debuts on Saturday.

He’s the Man(u)!

Slam Dunk Racing’s Ginobili can build on his legendary namesake’s legacy by adding back-to-back Fifth Season Stakes titles this Saturday at Oaklawn Park.

The 7-year-old gelding will be returning to action after a lengthy 11-month hiatus that started following last February’s Razorback Handicap (G3). Despite the disappointing eighth place finish back then, Ginobili enters well-rested ahead of his title defense bout.

If victorious, the Peter Miller pupil will have accomplished something Basketball Hall of Famer Manu Ginobili never did, and that’s successfully defend a title. Granted, the Argentinian sports icon’s four NBA championship rings aren’t something to bat an eye at.   

Always on Standby

Through four career starts the only blemish, if we can even call it that, on Vote No’s young resume is a third in last October’s Bourbon Stakes (G2T).

The winner of three races, including two stakes’ features (Juvenile Sprint and Prevue), is set to go one mile over the Turfway dirt on Saturday night for a shot at the $125,000 Leonatus. It won’t be a small task, however, as the 3-year-old gelding enters on just two weeks rest.

Vote No has run on shorter rest before, waiting just 24 days between his maiden start and the Juvenile Sprint, which he ultimately scored by 5 ¼ lengths.

The rising star enters at 3-1.

The Mare of Midnight

They say nothing good happens after 2 a.m., so good thing Midnight Memories still has a few hours to spare.

The 4-year-old multiple graded stakes winner can add a fourth graded title in six tries this Saturday when she takes on 8* challengers in the $100,000 La Cañada Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita.

Riding in on the heels of a hard-fought Bayakoa (G3) triumph, the battle-tested mare faces strong competition from a familiar face. Desert Dawn, who finished as the runner-up to Midnight Memories in the Bayakoa, will have a chance to even the score in the 8 ½ furlong affair.

Midnight Memories enters at 6-5, while Desert Dawn follows closely at 2-1.