Absolutelystriking has bounce potential

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Absolutelystriking should be the clear-cut favorite in Friday’s seventh race at Woodbine, but there are questions surrounding that lightly raced Sam-Son Farm homebred.

Absolutelystriking had been idle for nearly a year before his authoritative tally in a seven-furlong maiden special Aug. 26, for which he earned a solid Beyer Speed Figure of 85. Speed was very effective that week, with the movable rail in the outermost lane on a firm turf course, and he made all the running en route to a 5 1/4-length victory.

Absolutelystriking is returning to action on fairly short rest here, in a first-level allowance that is scheduled for seven furlongs on the grass. He drew the outside post in a large field and is a bounce candidate, even though trainer Mark Frostad possesses excellent numbers with horses exiting a win. Patrick Husbands has the mount.

Other contenders in the feature include Little Red Chris, Prized Humor, Trelawny and Ad Infinitum.

Little Red Chris received an 83 Beyer Figure for his four-length score in a $40,000 conditioned claimer over seven furlongs on the grass Aug. 19. He was previously in mediocre route form, and may now have found his niche as a stalking sprinter on the grass.

Jono Jones will ride Little Red Chris for trainer Kevin Attard, a combination which has had ample success.

Prized Humor wound up second in both of his turf outings, including in a one-mile allowance Aug. 28. Shortening up to a long sprint could be beneficial for this well-bred son of Distorted Humor, who is adding blinkers and getting a rider switch to Emile Ramsammy.

Trelawny has won two six-furlong sprints in a row, a maiden special and a contentious $62,500 claimer. He is trying the turf for the first time, a surface over which his dam was unplaced in three starts.

Leading apprentice Omar Moreno has the mount on Trelawny, who is owned and trained by Laurie Silvera.

The Bill Mott-trained Ad Infinitum won his maiden traveling seven furlongs on the grass at Belmont July 3. A subsequent effort in allowance company at Saratoga was disappointing, and he was ineffective here last time in an allowance that was taken off the turf.

Don Cavallo is experimenting on the grass. A son of good turf sire El Prado, he is strongly bred for the dirt on the dam’s side of his pedigree.

Bug’s Boy was entered for the main track only. Seven-eighths on Polytrack is his preferred trip.