Woodbine: Love in Egbert looks like the choice

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Jockey Justin Stein, who celebrated his first Queen’s Plate victory Sunday aboard Strait of Dover, will have much less fish to fry Wednesday night at Woodbine when he rides Love in Egbert in the headliner.

Love in Egbert should be favored in the eighth and final race on the card, a seven-furlong allowance for Ontario-sired nonwinners of two. She commenced her career by finishing second in three straight shorter maiden special weight sprints, including two in April.

Love in Egbert was promoted from third to second by disqualification May 11, in a five-furlong maiden special which was taken by future allowance winner Forester’s Diva. Many left the bandwagon June 9, when she stretched out to 6 1/2 furlongs, but she finally got the job done under a patient ride from Stein, who coaxed her to come wide from farther back than usual to win by daylight.

Paul Buttigieg owns and trains Love in Egbert, who possesses the highest recent Beyer Speed Figures in Wednesday’s feature by a wide margin.

Malibu Lady could be the main threat in her second race off the sidelines.

Malibu Lady graduated second time out at 2, in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special, for which she got a respectable 61 Beyer. She subsequently finished seventh in the South Ocean Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile route for Ontario-sired fillies.

Following a winter layoff, Malibu Lady was unruly in the paddock before a June 14 allowance, in which she wound up seventh as the favorite. Perhaps she will be more effective with that race under her girth.

Patrick Husbands will ride Maibu Lady again for trainer Carlos Grant.

Very Dry Dancer rallied nicely to graduate at first asking in a slow 6 1/2-furlong maiden special April 29. Two and a half weeks later, she finished a flat fifth in a 1 1/16-mile llowance. Her hot trainer, Bob Tiller, has weak numbers with turnbacks.

Lions Summit and I’veatigerinmytank are coupled in an entry.

Lions Summit woke up while going long for the first time June 10, when she notched a maiden special convincingly under apprentice Tommy Wong.

I’veatigerinmytank posted mixed results in her last few tries going long, which included a failed turf experiment. Her best 2-year-old efforts came around one turn.

Just Fiona beat $16,000 maidens in a vastly improved performance third time out in the final race on a Wednesday night, June 6.