Woodbine: Courtville looks ready to tackle open company in allowance feature

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Courtville got a dream run along the inside in his Oct. 19 victory over Ontario-sired allowance opposition. He will stretch out in distance in Friday’s featured first-level allowance for open company at Woodbine, and could strike again in the 1 1/16-mile event.

Courtville romped second time out at the meet May 18, in a nonwinners of two allowance route for Ontario-sired stock. He met some formidable opposition June 10 in the nine-furlong Victoria Park Stakes, in which he wound up a distant third behind Prospective and Patrioticandproud.

Courtville was a minor player in a pair of Ontario-sired stakes in September, the one-mile Vice Regent on the turf and the seven-furlong Overskate. Most recently, he won going away traveling seven furlongs on the Polytrack, matching his career-high 83 Beyer Speed Beyer, a figure enhanced by that perfect trip.

Omar Moreno will ride Courtville, who has banked $142,396 this year, all for owner/trainer Laurie Silvera.

Clean House will be among the favorites, but is certainly a vulnerable one. He has competed in nine straight allowances dating back to last fall, and finished second in his last four outings, all at 1 1/16 miles.

Clean House registered a big 90 Beyer when a close second to Plate Trial Stakes winner River Rush on July 29. He got only a 70 Beyer in his next runner-up placing, and had a troubled break before earning a 77 Beyer last time, when he was ridden by John Velazquez on Canadian International Day.

Second-leading rider Patrick Husbands picks up the mount on the Josie Carroll-trained Clean House.

Bear’s Tenor went four wide on both turns en route to finishing fourth behind favorites Laugh Track and Clean House on Oct. 14. Justin’s Tapit exited that event to graduate in maiden special company.

So Long George won both of his September engagements, for $25,000 on the Polytrack and against $40,000 conditioned claimers on the grass.

Urban Forester took a long time to come around this year after capturing his two 2011 starts. He snapped a nine-race losing streak with a pace-pressing score in a nine-furlong Ontario-sired allowance Oct. 21.

Leading rider Luis Contreras retains the mount on Jive On, who hasn’t shown anything since romping in a B-level maiden special Aug. 8.

It’s the time of year when claimers can make an impact in first-level allowance company, and Big Brown Brewski has been performing well against $20,000 foes.

Completing the field is Simply Smart, who has struggled since beating $20,000 nonwinners-of-two types in September.