Ciboulette could be sitting on solid effort in turf sprint
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Ciboulette nearly upset the applecart at 32-1 when she came off the sidelines in June. She’s competing in another six-furlong allowance race on the grass in Friday’s Woodbine headliner and might be ready to pop in her third try off the bench.
Ciboulette, a 6-year-old Bold Executive mare, has banked about $230,000 in 34 starts. Her lone win in nine appearances last year came in an Ontario-sired optional claimer for non-winners of three.
Ciboulette ran the race of her life in her June 3 comeback. In a turf race without much pace, she rallied from four lengths back to finish a close second behind a sharp Wild N Clever, earning a career-high 76 Beyer Speed Figure. Ciboulette moved over to the Polytrack for her last outing June 28, finishing a flat third over a speed-favoring surface.
The capable journeyman Gary Boulanger will ride Ciboulette again for trainer Joe Walls.
Eight other races were carded on Friday’s appealing card, including two other grass events.
KEY CONTENDERS
Ciboulette (Last 3 Beyers: 61-76-63)
◗ It is somewhat surprising that Ciboulette got her name when you consider that the original Ciboulette was a multiple stakes winner here in the early 1960s. She produced the great Canadian Horse of the Year Fanfreluche.
Final Redemption (Last 3 Beyers: 73-73-73)
◗ The Maryland shipper should go favored off a narrow loss to Reserved here in a seven-furlong allowance that was taken off the turf. Patrick Husbands, who was aboard for that June 12 tilt, retains the mount for trainer Graham Motion, who has struggled at Woodbine in recent years.
◗ She was a beaten favorite in four of her last five starts, including a second here to Llanarmon in the 2014 Carotene Stakes.
Erma Lee (Last 3 Beyers: 51-69-57)
◗ Lane 4 is being used on the course this week, a position that occasionally favors inside speed. Erma Lee figures to employ that style after breaking from the rail under leading rider Eurico Da Silva, who has compiled impressive numbers for trainer Kevin Attard.
Splashy Gizmo (Last 3 Beyers: 63-18-35)
◗ After capturing her season opener against optional claimers, she was beaten by double-digit lengths in her next two outings at this first allowance condition. She was a belated third most recently in a weak, open allowance that served as the prep for the Royal North Stakes.
Primordia (Last 3 Beyers: 53-61-66)
◗ The router wants to go farther than six furlongs, but she could garner some of the pieces in her second race of the season.