Black Bird Rock in comfortable spot in sprint feature

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Black Bird Rock has earned a solid living while competing for a $62,500 tag in second-level optional-claiming company and should be favored in such a spot going seven furlongs Friday at Woodbine.

Black Bird Rock was reclaimed by his original trainer, Mark Casse, on behalf of owner Gary Barber in September. After notching his second start off the claim going seven furlongs on the Polytrack, Casse shipped the mare to Santa Anita, where she was a minor player on grass during the winter.

Black Bird Rock reappeared here following a freshening April 26, rallying strongly to prevail as the favorite in a 6 1/2-furlong sprint.

Black Bird Rock breaks from the outside No. 7 post in the feature, which is the eighth on a nine-race card with several huge fields.

KEY CONTENDERS

Black Bird Rock (Last 3 Beyers: 77-73-81)

◗ The stretch runner has some speed to chase here under Patrick Husbands, who was aboard for each of her last three victories. Husbands and Casse, Woodbine’s best-known jockey-trainer tandem, had combined to go 7 for 23 at the meet heading into this week.

Wild N Clever (Last 3 Beyers: 67-86-73)

◗ The fast 4-year-old led throughout each of her outings going five furlongs at this stand while facing $32,000-claiming males and optional-claiming females. Her main obstacle figures to be the seven furlongs, a distance over which she’s winless in two starts.

Line of Best Fit (Last 3 Beyers: 76-71-63)

◗ She won her last two outings in the fall, against $20,000 optional claimers on dirt at Fort Erie and in a $32,000 contest traveling seven furlongs here on Polytrack. She finished up the track behind Black Bird Rock the last time she came off a long break last summer but has worked quickly for accomplished layoff trainer Bob Tiller.

◗ She is nominated to Monday’s Ballade Stakes but has opted for this easier event.

Norquay (Last 3 Beyers: 74-77-77)

◗ She was stakes-placed at 2 and 3, but it took the 4-year-old six tries to clear the first allowance condition in her last appearance Dec. 6.

Aunt Els (Last 3 Beyers: 71-74-76)

◗ Her three scores last year all came at this level, including a narrow win in her season opener. She is surprisingly unplaced in four seven-furlong attempts, although she managed to finish fourth after a troubled trip at that distance in the 2014 Sweet Briar Too Stakes.