'Carolus' aims for one better

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Carolus Magnus, Badge of Truth, and Santino's Honour, who have all made a habit of finishing second, will meet in Thursday's featured sixth race at Woodbine, a 6 1/2-furlong allowance worth $62,800.

Carolus Magnus registered five seconds before graduating in his 13th start, a six-furlong maiden special May 26. He was a flat fourth in a seven-furlong allowance in his first venture outside the maiden ranks June 13, but he rebounded with a narrow loss after a troubled trip in another allowance sprint just 10 days later.

Woodbine's leading jockey, apprentice Tyler Pizarro, will ride Carolus Magnus for leading trainer Bob Tiller. Pizarro has a record of 5-4-2 from 25 mounts at the meeting for Tiller.

Badge of Truth closed against the grain of a speed bias when third following a nine-month absence in a six-furlong allowance June 24. He has been second in 5 of 11 starts, and his only victory came in a maiden special two years ago at 2.

Badge of Truth has been an underachiever since his promising juvenile campaign, during which he finished second in both the Grade 3 Grey Breeders' Cup Stakes and the Grade 2 Summer Stakes.

Badge of Truth worked five furlongs in 1:01.80 last Thursday for trainer Malcolm Pierce, who will give jockey Jono Jones a leg up.

Santino's Honour has 3 wins to go along with 7 seconds and 5 thirds in 27 outings. He ended a slump when he beat Ontario-sired allowance stock while earning a career high 83 Beyer Speed Figure two starts ago over 6o1/2 furlongs on the Polytrack.

Most recently, in an open first-level allowance on the grass, Santino's Honour stalked a slow pace, which was set by the eventual winner, Ju Ju Beast, before ending up second by a nose over Wollemi Pine. Richard Dos Ramos retains the mount on the 5-year-old Santino's Honour, who is trained by Laurie Silvera.

Completing the field are Season Storm, Dakota Freeway, Xaler, and Tommy Shanks.

Season Storm is a longshot possibility. He also ran against the speed bias June 24, when finishing fourth while beaten a head by Badge of Truth.

Season Storm won his season opener after pressing the pace in an Ontario-sired allowance May 21. He never fired two weeks later in a key allowance contest on the grass, from which Ice Bear exited to capture the Charlie Barley Stakes.