Adrosa Sky will try to pair wins off layoff in Friday sprint feature

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The promising Adrosa Sky returns from a layoff in Friday’s second race at Woodbine, a six-furlong allowance for 2-year-olds.

Adrosa Sky, an Ontario-bred by Sky Mesa, was a $150,000 yearling purchase by John Oxley, the Sovereign Award-winning owner in Canada in 2012 and 2013.

Adrosa Sky was bet down to 3-5 for his only start in a 4 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race on June 1. After breaking alertly, he shrugged off an early challenger for the lead before drawing away for a 5 1/2-furlong score, in a quick time of 52.05 seconds.

Patrick Husbands retains the mount on Adrosa Sky, who’s been working up a storm for leading trainer Mark Casse. His five-furlong breeze in 1:01.40 last Friday was the fastest of six drills at the distance.

Among the others in the feature race are two Ian Howard-trained runners, Undercover Cat and Fifth Business, who will not be coupled.

KEY CONTENDERS

Adrosa Sky (Beyer: 62)

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past five years, Casse has won at a 20 percent clip with 2-year-olds exiting a maiden victory, with a return on investment of $1.91.

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Undercover Cat (Last 3 Beyers: 64-50-48)

He graduated second time out in June, and was idle for the rest of the summer after ending up sixth in the July 12 Clarendon Stakes. Following a two-month layoff, he rallied for second behind favored Three Ring Circus in a fast-paced allowance for Ontario-sired types last Friday.

Fifth Business (Last 3 Beyers: 64-57-67)

The versatile gelding placed in each of his first three outings, including a third on the grass behind Samuel Dechamplain and U S Marshal, who subsequently ran second and third, respectively, in the Grade 2 Summer Stakes.

Most recently, he came three wide from fourth to prevail in a six-furlong maiden special weight race on Polytrack.

The son of the freshman sire Munnings is a half-brother to multiple stakes-placed sprinter Norquay.

Jacks Escarpment (Beyer: 54)

He set moderate fractions before pulling away to register a five-length triumph in a recent six-furlong sprint for Ontario-sired maidens.

Drinks After Work (Beyer: 54)

Like Jacks Escarpment, who is also trained by Nick Gonzalez, he won at first asking in an Ontario-sired maiden special weight race on Nov. 23. Incredibly, both horses covered six furlongs in 1:10.82 and earned a 54 Beyer.

Princess Guerrera (Beyers: 53-52)

The lone filly in the lineup came up empty after tracking the pacesetter in the Nov. 22 Glorious Song Stakes.