Backonthechaingang may take advantage of lack of pace
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario – There is very little speed in Friday’s sixth race at Woodbine. With the often aggressive Sofia Vives aboard, perhaps Backonthechaingang will revert to front-running tactics in the $25,000 nonwinners-of-three sprint, which could be the key to victory.
Trained by Robert Tiller for owner-breeder Frank Di Guilio Jr., Backonthechaingang raced forwardly at times in 2024, albeit without much success. This year, the 4-year-old dusted $25,000 maidens three starts ago before doubling up against $25,000 nonwinners-of-two stock before a wide-closing third at this level.
Vives and Tiller are a combined 15 for 73 at the meet, including two stakes scores with the late Canadian champion Patches O’Houlihan.
The other six entrants in the 6 1/2-furlong event are closers, including Secret Threat, who has been slow to come around this year for hot trainer Marty Drexler. Secret Threat couldn’t cut it against Ontario-sired and $40,000 opposition in the spring and early summer before descending to this level two starts ago.
When switching from turf to Tapeta most recently, Secret Threat got away slowly before rallying four wide for second in his first try under apprentice Xarel Forde, who retains the mount. Forde and Drexler combined to capture the Aug. 17 Vice Regent Stakes with longshot Artemus Citylimits.
Crucial Taunt, who has reached full bloom of late, is moving up off a claim by trainer Angus Buntain. He earned the highest last-out Beyer Speed Figure in the lineup, a 74, by a slim margin when beating $15,000 nonwinners of three while competing out of his proper condition. Jeffrey Alderson picks up the mount on the sophomore.
Lucky Romance has been sidelined since a non-threatening sixth behind Gilt Edge and the sharp next-out winner Summer Commander in a tougher spot on the main turf July 6. The son of Lookin At Lucky is dropping to a new low and has only cracked the top three once in six starts this year, which was a second in first-level allowance company at Fair Grounds.
Sahin Civaci will ride Lucky Romance for the first time for trainer Steve Flint, who has low numbers with short-term layoff types.
Glintindaddyseye is competing on Tapeta for the first time since a wide fourth versus $15,000 nonwinners of two here July 27. Three weeks earlier, he graduated in a maiden special weight on the grass at Fort Erie, where he won his penultimate race in allowance company on the dirt. He benefited from an inside bias until the stretch when third in a Sept. 9 stakes there for Ontario-sired 3-year-olds.
Cooler Man has been in a tailspin over the past year. When dropping to this class Sept. 5, the 4-year-old hugged the rail throughout after a tardy start and wound up fifth behind Secret Threat and Backonthechaingang.
Post time for the seven-race card is 4:30 p.m.
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