by Greg Gangle, WEG media

Toronto, ON — A trio of stable stars from the Bob McIntosh barn are nearly ready to begin their 2011 campaigns. Strike An Attitude, Lauren and Windsong Soprano are just a few weeks away from qualifying according to the veteran conditioner.

New Image Mediia photo

Strike An Attitude banked $575,984 as a freshman in 2010.

After racing primarily on the Grand Circuit last year as a 2-year-old, Strike An Attitude is looking to extend her already impressive $575,984 bankroll. The homebred daughter of Western Hanover-Strike A Balance recorded a pair of noteworthy second-place finishes in both the $600,000 Breeders Crown and $501,000 Three Diamonds.

“She’s come back really great,” McIntosh said from his home in Windsor, Ontario. “She grew up some and has really filled out like I thought she would. She’s trained down to 2:00 over my farm track and is about three weeks away from qualifying.”

With 14 starts last season, Strike An Attitude concluded her year with a 6-4-1 record. She also captured a pair of stakes victories in Lexington, as well as a third-place finish in the $660,480 She’s A Great Lady.

McIntosh shares the ownership papers with CSX Stables and Jerry Silva.

Lauren, one of the top contenders in the Ontario Sires Stakes last year, is also on the brink of making her 3-year-old debut.

“Her and Strike An Attitude train together, so she has been in 2:00, as well,” McIntosh stated. “To be honest, I haven’t really looked at the schedule yet for the both of them. They will tell me when they are ready.”

Lauren, a hombred daughter of Modern Art-One Cadet, earned $309,468 last season while capturing a pair of OSS Gold finals. Gordon and Claudia Wright own the miss who recorded an 8-3-0 record from 11 starts with a 1:53 life’s best.

Nigel Soult photo

Windsong Soprano has earned more than $1.2 million in her career.

Windsong Soprano, last year’s O’Brien Award winner for Canada’s older trotting mare of the year, will be ready to qualify within the next week or two according to McIntosh. The 5-year-old daughter of Windsong’s Legacy-Muscling In has competed on the Grand Circuit for the majority of her racing career, which reflects on her $1,222,369 bankroll.

“She will get one, maybe two more training miles, then she will qualify. I’ll likely race her at Woodbine then play it by ear. She will likely get the same type of campaign as last year.”

Purchased as a yearling for $110,000 by Lothlorien of Cheltenham, Ontario, Windsong Soprano recorded a 4-7-0 from 16 starts last year with earnings of $258,820.