ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Stretch-runner Verdejo could prevail if she gets some speed to close behind in Sunday’s Woodbine headliner, a conditioned allowance/optional claimer with eight fillies and mares scheduled for six furlongs on the main turf. Verdejo was claimed for $32,000 by trainer Abraham Katryan for owner Carlo D’Amato on Dec. 16, when she ran an uncharacteristically dull race. After getting the winter off, the daughter of Fed Biz has posted four solid efforts this spring. Verdejo came flying late to finish second to the speedy Miss Vyvanne in her five-furlong comeback on April 27. She competed with a $32,000 claiming tag again three weeks later and prevailed over Foolish Games and Cara Cara, who had fought for the lead in the 5 1/2-furlong Tapeta dash. Switching to the inner turf in a five-furlong conditioned allowance/optional event June 8, Verdejo rallied from sixth to dead-heat for third while just a neck behind victorious American Starlet. Dropping to Sunday’s level going three-quarters on the Tapeta June 29, she took the long way home from far back under jockey Leo Salles to dead-heat for fifth while beaten a half-length as part of another blanket finish. Salles retains the mount on Verdejo. The Brazilian-born journeyman was also aboard for the 5-year-old’s first two outings at the meet. :: Get the Inside Track with the FREE DRF Morning Line Email Newsletter. Subscribe now.  Cara Cara looks like the one to catch under Luis Contreras. The daughter of underrated Ontario sire Signature Red cleared the first allowance condition in her penultimate race, a five-furlong inner turf race. She just missed to Miss Vyvanne most recently June 29 while leaving Verdejo in her wake. Trainer Mark Casse sends out former stakes performers Personal Pursuit and Ticker Tape Home. Personal Pursuit earned black type when third in the 2023 Gasparilla Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. She peaked here last September, romping in an allowance on the main turf by eight lengths with a big 90 Beyer Speed Figure, after which she ran fourth in the Glen Cove Stakes at Aqueduct. Off a six-month layoff here June 29, Personal Pursuit dead-heated with Verdejo after mounting a wide rally from the back of the pack, a race that should set her up nicely for this one. Ticker Tape Home was seventh in the 2023 Florida Oaks before returning to Woodbine in June of last year to take the seven-furlong Fury Stakes in front-running style with an 85 Beyer. After minor placings in the Woodbine Oaks and Grade 3 Seaway, she got a break last fall and winter and wasn’t a factor in two five-furlong allowance/optional claimers this spring at Gulfstream Park. Luz de La Luna won at this level in December and can make some noise in her fourth start off the sidelines, as could Gloriannia in her second race off a break. The feature goes as the 10th on an expanded 11-race card with a 1:05 p.m. post time. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.