Baker has 'Bear' pair in feature

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The Reade Baker-trained entry of Jimmymac Bear and Bear's Ali heads the feature on the final Friday card of the Woodbine meeting. The first-level allowance for 2-year-olds will be contested at six furlongs, for a purse of $69,100.

Jimmymac Bear was a stalking fourth when he debuted on the grass Sept. 20. He performed much better most recently on the Polytrack, graduating with ease over Crown Isle, with a Beyer Speed Figure of 78. Crown Isle came back to perform solidly twice after that.

Jim McAleney retains the mount on his namesake, Jimmymac Bear, a Texas-bred by Grand Slam.

Bear's Ali also won his maiden second time out, after ending up fourth in his opener. That victory came in a five-furlong maiden special, where he was awarded a Beyer Figure of 70.

Eurico Rosa Da Silva, who piloted the Baker-trained Fatal Bullet to a second-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Santa Anita, will ride Bear's Ali.

Like Jimmymac Bear and Bear's Ali, War Lap is nominated to Saturday's $150,000 Display Stakes. Trained by Steve Asmussen, War Lap is strongly bred for the grass, the surface over which he won his maiden here in August, after shipping in from Churchill Downs.

War Lap was a hanging fourth in the Aug. 23 Silver Deputy Stakes, before spinning his wheels over yielding turf in the allowance prep for the Summer Stakes. He was second to the well-regarded Congor Bay in an Oct. 23 allowance on the Polytrack, for which he was awarded a Beyer of 73.

Long Pants has been sidelined since his disappointing performance as the favorite in the July 5 Clarendon Stakes. He has been working on a regular schedule, under the guidance of trainer Catherine Day Phillips.

Paso Doble has changed trainers since taking his recent debut in a seven-furlong maiden special for Ontario-sired runners, and is currently trained by Mike Doyle.

Graeme Wafer also won his only outing, against $62,500 maidens Sept. 27. The second and fifth horses from that six-furlong dash both came right back to graduate in upper-level claimers.

That's Just Wrong is the lone filly in the nine-horse field. She romped in a $60,000 maiden race for Ontario-sired fillies Nov. 7, two starts after being claimed for a bargain $20,000.

Vegas Weekend beat $50,000 maidens Oct. 13, before ending up fourth behind Congor Bay and War Lap in their Oct. 23 allowance.