Clayton looks to rebound in Bold Venture Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Clayton is among a full field of 14 in Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Bold Venture at Woodbine. Can he rebound off the only poor performance of his career in the competitive 6 1/2-furlong sprint?

Clayton was a player in the 2020 Canadian Triple Crown. He was a stalking third over a speed-favoring track in the Queen’s Plate, a four-wide second in the Prince of Wales Stakes, and fifth in the Breeders’ Stakes. His best of just two starts last year was a close third to Pink Lloyd in the Grade 2 Kennedy Road here in November.

“He’s a horse I think highly of,” trainer Kevin Attard said. “He only had two races last year. He won first time out and then just got beat to Pink Lloyd.”

Attard felt Clayton had a valid excuse for his dull season debut in a seven-furlong conditioned allowance on July 3. He stalked the pace for a half-mile and tired to finish seventh, beaten 11 3/4 lengths.

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“He broke through the gate before the race,” Attard said. “I think that got him worked up. He ran the worst he’s ever run for me. I was disappointed to see it, but I’m just going to chalk it up to the gate. He’s worked really well in the interim. I think he should give a good account of himself.”

Nobals, based at Colonial with trainer Larry Rivelli, is exiting a sixth-place showing in the Grade 3 Quick Call on the Saratoga grass. The 3-year-old could be favored off his fast score here in the Woodstock Stakes on May 1.

Outadore won the 2021 Woodstock for trainer Wesley Ward. He was second after a long layoff in the July 5 Karl Boyes Stakes over Presque Isle’s Tapeta.

Candy Overload, a 4-year-old trained by Krista Cole-Simpson, has blossomed in his last four starts and might not be out of his league with these.

After ending up second in the Ontario Jockey Club Stakes on June 19, Candy Overload rallied outside from seventh to win a first-level allowance with $32,000 claiming option July 22.

“The key is to have something for him to run at,” Cole-Simpson said. “He’s in good order coming into this race and he’s happy. There are some good horses here, but he deserves to be in the race.”

Roaring Forties, another late bloomer, was gelded over the winter and has run three solid races this year at 6 in his first campaign for trainer Katerina Vassilieva.

Trainer Mark Casse sends out Souper Stonehenge, Tap It to Win, and Helium, who was supplemented. Souper Stonehenge has yet to recapture his winning Tapeta form from 2020-21 this year.

Tap It to Win is cross-entered in Sunday’s Grade 3 Seagram Cup.

Attard also entered the lone also-eligible, Red River Rebel.

◗ A field of 13 was drawn for Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Trillium for fillies and mares. Turf expert Lady Speightspeare is trying the Tapeta for just the second time in the 1 1/16-mile route.

Canada’s champion 2-year-old filly in 2020, Lady Speightspeare won the Grade 2 Bessarabian over seven furlongs on the Tapeta here in November. She was a late scratch from the Grade 2 Dance Smartly on July 24, three weeks after she dead-heated for the win here in the Grade 2 Nassau.