Cool Times cuts back for one-turn experiment
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario − Recently stakes-placed, the speedy Cool Times experiments around one turn in Thursday’s featured nonwinners-of-two allowance for fillies and mares at Woodbine.
A Chiefswood Stables homebred, Cool Times made all five of her starts in routes for trainer Katerina Vassilieva. She raced on a live rail in her 9 3/4-length maiden score in her third trip postward July 25. Six weeks later, she set a lively pace on a substantial lead before coming up empty in the 1 1/4-mile Wonder Where Stakes on the main turf.
Most recently in the Oct. 10 Ontario Damsel Stakes, Cool Times clipped off fast fractions before giving way late to finish three lengths behind the favored Kentucky shipper Raiding Party in third. She received an 80 Beyer Speed Figure in the 1 1/16-mile Tapeta tilt for 3-year-old fillies.
Fraser Aebly has the mount on Cool Times, a daughter of elite sire Not This Time and stakes winner Cool Shadows.
“Cool Times is a high energy filly and has always had a naturally high cruising speed,” Vassilieva said. “Although she’s raced successfully at two turns, I think the cutback to a sprint distance will work in her favor.”
Leading trainer Mark Casse entered She’s Gold and Lainey in the 6 1/2-furlong headliner.
She’s Gold put away a challenger for the early lead while racing on a golden rail en route to a three-length maiden triumph when debuting Sept. 26, for which she got a 77 Beyer. She dropped back to third from an early stalking position most recently before coming back on for second behind the favored Happy Destination in a six-furlong allowance.
Lainey, a 4-year-old by perennial leading sire Into Mischief, has been campaigned sporadically since last fall. She faded to finish sixth in each of her last two outings, most recently in a main turf sprint Aug. 29.
Ryan Munger will ride She’s Gold and Casse’s go-to jockey Rafael Hernandez takes over on Lainey.
Trainer Josie Carroll sends out Quality Ami and Fleury.
Quality Ami increased her already immense value when winning a recent maiden special off a layoff on the Tapeta with a 77 Beyer after leading all the way on a golden rail. The daughter of Essential Quality is a half-sister to five stakes winners, including Grade 1 winner Kopion and the Grade 3 victors Ami’s Flatter and Amis Gizmo.
Fleury missed the break and then rallied from sixth to end up fourth behind She’s Gold in her improved last outing Oct. 24. The erratic daughter of Practical Joke is picking up apprentice Christoff Douglas, who has won three races for the barn.
Rounding out the field is Bullet Journal. She earned an 83 Beyer when wiring maiden special rivals over a track that favored speed and inside runners July 18. She was softened up in a speed duel before tiring badly in her latest venture in a seven-furlong allowance on the main turf.
Post time for the expanded 10-race card is 3:10 p.m.
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