Aldous Snow class of field in Valedictory prep

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The classy grass runner Aldous Snow took a shine to the Tapeta surface in his last outing. He should be favored to double up Friday in the 1 5/8-mile allowance prep for the Grade 3 Valedictory Stakes. The Valedictory will be run Dec. 4, closing day of the Woodbine meet.

Aldous Snow captured last year’s Grade 3 Singspiel, a 12-furlong turf marathon, and wound up third in that race this past July. He was arguably best Aug. 31 in the restricted Halton Stakes, but had to settle for fourth after lacking a clear path throughout most of the long stretch of Woodbine’s turf course.

Aldous Snow ran on the Tapeta in a 12-furlong allowance Oct. 12. After saving ground in sixth, he began to mount a wide rally on the far turn and got home on top by a length over two of his Friday rivals.

Friday’s nine-race card also has a second-level optional-claiming sprint, headed by stakes winner Ami’s Mesa; and a $40,000 claimer going seven furlongs on the grass.

KEY CONTENDERS

Aldous Snow, by Theatrical

Last 3 Beyers: 82-83-92

◗ The Sam-Son Farm homebred has worked twice leading up to this engagement, including a half-mile in a spry 48.20 seconds on the Tapeta last Friday.

◗ Leading rider Eurico Da Silva retains the mount, and he is 16 for 74 at the meet for Aldous Snow’s trainer, Malcolm Pierce.

Bangkok, by Street Hero

Last 3 Beyers: 81-76-85

◗ The long-winded 5-year-old stalked three wide en route to running second to Aldous Snow on Oct. 12, when he was dismissed at 24-1. Perhaps his best effort of the meet was a close third in an 11-furlong optional claimer on the grass July 29.

English Illusion, by English Channel

Last 3 Beyers: 80-82-86

◗ The late-developing 3-year-old got shuffled back from a stalking position in mid-race Oct. 12 and finished a half-length behind Bangkok in third. He ran against a speed bias when a distant third Sept. 17 in the Grade 3 Ontario Derby, from which runner-up Dragon’s Bay exited to land a stakes at Belmont.

Easy Indygo, by Marchfield

Last 3 Beyers: 86-81-76

◗ He has been on the improve from a Beyer Speed Figure perspective and is stretching out to what figures to be a suitable distance off a closing second in a $32,000 starter allowance over 10 furlongs.

Desvelo, by Sunray Spirit

Last 3 Beyers: 65-76-94

◗ The erratic Maryland shipper was beaten a pole by the future Grade 2 Marathon Stakes winner Scuba and by Melmich in a 1 5/8-mile dirt stakes Oct. 2 at Belmont. He finished a distant fourth here in the 2015 Valedictory.