Class-dropping Wootun meets sharp group

Four of the seven 3-year-olds entered in Friday’s $70,000 optional-claiming and allowance feature will come into the race off a victory. But it will be the stakes-placed Wootun who could garner the most attention from bettors when stepping down in company for the 5 1/2-furlong dash to be decided over the Tapeta track.

Wootun failed to show his best speed and ultimately tired badly to finish last of eight in the Sophomore Sprint Stakes on April 25. The effort was a bit disappointing in light of his previous try when second best to the much improved Fulmine in the Hutcheson Stakes five weeks earlier.

Trained by Heather Smullen, Wootun will not only be getting some class relief but returns to the Tapeta course on Friday. He handled the surface very professionally when registering a gate-to-wire, 1 1/2-length allowance victory against Florida-breds on Feb. 1.

The Kid Is Back, Gray Astray, Playful Pal, and Win N Juice have not only won their most recent starts, they all did so over the synthetic oval.

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The Kid Is Back made his Tapeta debut a winning one by leading at every call en route to a 2 1/2-length maiden special weight tally June 5 for trainer Nicholas Palmer. He figures to be sent along right from the outset if he breaks cleanly from the rail under his new rider, Joe Bravo.

Gray Astray used a similar modus operandi sprinting to the lead and not looking back while defeating a modest field of $25,000 maiden-claiming foes in one-sided fashion over the Tapeta on Feb. 8. He has been sidelined ever since but has put in a steady series of works over the past 30 days in preparation for his return.

Playful Pal is yet another speedy member of the lineup. He was a game, neck winner of a maiden special weight dash going five furlongs over the Tapeta on May 3. He posted a career-best 69 Beyer Speed Figure despite dueling for the lead from the outset.

Win N Juice could benefit from what may prove a lively pace scenario, having rallied from off the pace to a convincing 5 1/2-length optional-claiming/starter-allowance victory May 29. His 78 Beyer Figure matched that of Wootun’s effort in the Hutcheson as the top number by any member of this field.

Itza Lock has dabbled with some success against stakes opposition both as a 2-year-old and earlier this season. He also figures to benefit from the class drop and a return to Tapeta while rounding out a very well-matched lineup along with Losmastix, another late-striding sort, who has yet to finish off the board in five career starts.

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