Bogue Chitto looks sharp for turf try

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Wednesday's Woodbine headliner, a six-furlong turf dash, drew five talented sprinters, and the hot horse in the third-level allowance/optional claimer is the late-bloomer Bogue Chitto.

Bogue Chitto, a 5-year-old trained by Ian Howard, launched his career last fall with a pair of top-three finishes in $40,000 maiden company. He defeated a weak field of $32,000 maidens in his season opener in May and subsequently ran second in a two consecutive $40,000 conditioned claimers. Bogue Chitto was ambitiously spotted in a first-level allowance July 11, which he won by daylight while earning a big 96 Beyer Speed Figure. He proved that strong showing wasn't a fluke when he doubled up Aug. 8 in a second-level allowance, receiving a 98 Beyer.

Bogue Chitto has competed only on Polytrack. He is by a dirt sire, Crafty Prospector, but his dam has produced She's the Umpire, who won a $50,000 claimer over Woodbine's turf course in July.

Dark Islander, unraced since Feb. 15, recently shipped here from Del Mar, where he had been working on a regular schedule under the guidance of trainer Neil Drysdale.

Dark Islander captured the Grade 2 Oak Tree Derby in 2006. He was campaigned in England in 2007-08 and was shipped back to California in July 2008, when he finished a close third in the Wickerr Handicap at Del Mar.

Timely Advice, a huge son of A.P. Indy, also is trying the turf for the first time. His dam, Confessional, captured the Grade 3 Royal North Stakes over this turf course in 2000 and 2001.

Timely Advice won two allowance races last winter at Fair Grounds and earned his first black type when third here in the Grade 3 Vigil Stakes in May. He was a fast-closing second in his penultimate start in the Mr. Prospector Stakes at Monmouth, which is where he checked in fourth most recently over a sloppy strip in the Teddy Drone Stakes.

Atticus Kristy has performed well since trainer Michael Pino claimed him for $50,000 in April at Keeneland. He has started three times here in the past, with his best result being a second in the Grade 3 Highlander Stakes in 2006.

Rounding out the field is Southern Exchange, who was one of the leading 2-year-olds in Canada last year. He possesses some turf breeding and could take a shine to the unfamiliar footing.