Black Hornet makes turf debut in prep for Highlander

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The speedy Black Hornet returns from a seven-month layoff Friday at Woodbine in the $74,500 allowance prep for next month’s Grade 2 Highlander Stakes.

Black Hornet is slated to make his first turf start in the six-furlong sprint, although trainer Pat Parente probably wouldn’t lose any sleep if the race is moved to the Polytrack. Black Hornet won two restricted stakes for 3-year-olds here last year on Polytrack, the seven-furlong Queenston and the six-furlong Achievement.

Black Hornet went winless in his last four outings but managed to rally for second after a troubled break Nov. 12 in the Sophomore Sprint Stakes on dirt at Mountaineer. Justin Stein retains the mount on Black Hornet, who doesn’t possess much turf breeding.

The venerable 6-year-old Run to the Bank has earned more than $70,000 in three starts at this meet. He cleared his second and third allowance conditions while winning a pair of optional claimers on Polytrack, then finished a respectable fifth in the Grade 2 Connaught Cup Stakes on grass May 31.

Eurico Rosa Da Silva was aboard for both wins this spring and has the mount on Run to the Bank, who is owned and trained by Nick Nosowenko.

Dan the Tin Man woke up on the second day of the meet April 13, rallying from fourth to take the six-furlong Jacques Cartier Stakes at 9-1. He subsequently ran seventh in another Polytrack stakes, the Grade 3 Vigil.

Dan the Tin Man finished up the course in his lone turf start in the Grade 2 Play the King Stakes last August while facing the likes of champion Riding the River, Dimension, and Excaper.

Lockout has been campaigned sporadically by trainer Mark Casse since his victory in the 2012 Remington Green Stakes at Remington Park. He failed to find the mark in five starts last year, which included a close sixth in the Grade 2 King Edward Stakes.

Lockout had been on the sidelines for nine months before rallying inside to prevail in a seven-furlong optional-claiming event on grass here May 28.

Awesome Eclipse prevailed in a front-end battle before weakening to second behind Lockout on May 28. He doesn’t have the blazing speed of Black Hornet, which makes him vulnerable in this spot.

Main-track-only entrants Paso Doble and Sniper finished third and fourth in the restricted New Providence Stakes on May 19.