Cotton looks to rebound, avoid speed duel
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Thursday’s racing action kicks off Woodbine Mile week, and there’s a good conditioned allowance/optional claimer on the eight-race card that begins at 4:40 p.m.
Trainer Marty Drexler sends out Cotton and Priceless Will in the 6 1/2-furlong Tapeta sprint, which carries a base purse of $76,000.
Even though he’s coming off a subpar performance, Cotton could be favored while competing for the $50,000 tag. After wintering in Florida, Cotton commenced a three-race win streak in a $25,000 starter handicap after a stalking trip here April 29.
Cotton subsequently won a first-level allowance in front-running fashion on the main turf. He then cleared the second allowance condition on the Tapeta while earning his second straight 93 Beyer Speed Figure.
Most recently in the second leg of the Woodbine Turf Sprint Series, Cotton faded to finish sixth as the odds-on favorite after getting fried in a speed duel.
Cotton drew outside the other speed in post 5 on Thursday, where jockey Rafael Hernandez can make the most of his tactical speed.
Princess Will has improved significantly with each subsequent start at the meet. He lost a nail-biter two back and then benefited from a fast pace when landing a first-level allowance with an 82 Beyer on Aug. 13.
Kazushi Kimura inherits the mount on Priceless Will from Hernandez, and Kimura, the meet’s leading rider, has a 27 percent strike rate for Drexler.
Maclean’s Posse figures to take up the chase from an inside stalking position in his first start under Sahin Civaci.
Trained by Josie Caroll, Maclean’s Posse hung late for second after racing forwardly in each of his first two starts at the meet. When boosted up to a higher conditioned allowance level most recently, he tracked the early leaders and then dueled through a quick middle pace before fading to sixth. He worked in his usual glib manner Aug. 27, a half-mile in 47.80 seconds.
Trainer John Charalambous entered the speedy Boston Tea Party and the closer Ready for a Fight.
Boston Tea Party graduated on debut over the Belmont grass in spring 2022, before missing the board in two more turf events in July of that year. When exiting a one-year layoff here Aug. 3, he wired allowance types on the main course. The gelding is by American Pharoah, who has sired 15 percent winners in synthetic sprints.
Ready for a Fight is winless in four outings since being claimed from a victory for $50,000 here April 23. He was along for third in each of his last two races that were part of the Woodbine Turf Sprint Series.
Patrick Husbands retains the mount on Boston Tea Party, and Emma-Jayne Wilson will ride Ready for a Fight.
Rounding out the field are Malibu Edge and Sugar Ray. Sugar Ray who will be ridden by new apprentice Pietro Moran, the son of injured journeyman David Moran.
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