Chircop pair loom large in juvenile turf sprint
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Steve Chircop could be holding a pair of aces with Twist of Sugar and Heart Tap in Thursday’s opening race, a five-furlong maiden special weight for 2-year-olds on the inner turf that lured four fillies and two colts.
With the addition of Lasix, the speedy Twist of Sugar should go favored under Ryan Munger. She started twice on the main turf this summer, finishing fourth at first asking after surrendering a clear lead in midstretch in a six-furlong maiden special weight on July 26.
Twist of Sugar contested the Aug. 16 Catch a Glimpse Stakes and certainly made her presence known. She darted out to a clear lead in the 6 1/2-furlong event before tiring in midstretch, eventually checking in 7 1/2 lengths back in sixth. Shortening up in distance on Thursday should be to her benefit.
“I think the turnback will be really good for her,” Chircop predicted. “There is a speed horse outside of her, but I don’t think the horse is as fast. The short stretch should be good for her.”
First-time starter Heart Tap beat company in a quick half-mile gate drill in 47.80 seconds on Aug. 31, which ranked 20th among 102 workers at the distance. Heart Tap is by Kantharos, who has sired a good 14 percent of both 2-year-old debut and turf sprint winners. Heart Tap’s dam, Carella, was a router who placed at 2, and she has produced three winners, including Eldest Son, who won on the grass and at 2 while earning nearly $300,000.
“She definitely has some potential,” Chircop said. “She’s been working pretty steadily. She is fast out of the gate, and being by Kantharos, five-eighths on the turf is probably a good starting point. I didn’t want to run the two horses together, but we’ve got a lot of 2-year-olds, so unfortunately it happens.”
There’s a gap in Heart Tap’s August work regimen, but Chircop said the Kentucky-bred is good to go and should assume a stalking position after breaking from post 2.
“She got sick on us,” Chircop said. “She’s not as fast as Twist of Sugar, but she should be in a tactical spot to be able to pick up a piece of it. It’s not the toughest race in the world.”
Chircop, who named Jose Campos on Heart Tap, won at a 6 percent clip with 2-year-old first-timers over the past five years, with a positive return on investment of $3.76.
Chircop’s cousin, trainer Kevin Attard, sends out Spadina, who is debuting with blinkers. The daughter of elite 18 percent 2-year-old debut sire Not This Time is out of a stakes-placed mare who preferred the Tapeta over the grass. Spadina worked well from the gate on July 19.
Trainer Mark Casse entered unraced Final Accord, who is by the 6 percent 2-year-old debut sire War of Will and out of a turf winner.
Instant Response was freshened after placing in both of her maiden special weight starts in June for trainer Daniel Harvey.
Post time for the seven-race card is 5:30 p.m.
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