Cupid's Claws drops in bid to end long win drought

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – There are a host of classy old geldings in the sixth race on the final Friday of the Woodbine meet, including stakes winner Cupid’s Claws, who should go off favored in the 1 1/8-mile starter/optional claimer.

An 8-year-old trained by Mark Casse, Cupid’s Claws earned his 15 minutes of fame when taking the Grade 3 Tokyo City Cup at Santa Anita in 2020. The Tokyo City was his last win, but he also finished second in another 1 1/2-mile dirt stakes in Southern California, the Grade 3 Cougar II at Del Mar in 2021.

Cupid’s Claws has made his way down the class ladder since coming to Woodbine last summer. The closer was third in each of his last two outings for $25,000 and competes with a $15,000 tag on Friday with leading rider Kazushi Kimura aboard for the first time.

Stretch-runner Coleyville starts just outside Cupid’s Claws in post 14 under apprentice Sofia Vives. The popular 9-year-old scored twice earlier in the meet and got an 82 Beyer Speed Figure when second in his penultimate race. He dropped to $7,500 most recently and was along for second after taking the overland route as victorious Stop the Humbug saved ground.

Vanbrugh was softened up in speed duel in a $25,000 Tapeta route on Nov. 5, which was won by a rival who nearly captured a subsequent allowance. The 8-year-old was a front-running second against $25,000 opposition when protected by waiver two back going a mile on the main turf.

Rafael Hernandez takes over from Kimura. Hernandez is 13 for 39 at the meet for second-leading trainer Marty Drexler.

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Sir Sahib is dropping after struggling in his last two $25,000 excursions. The 8-year-old placed in several graded turf stakes at 4 and 5, including the Grade 1 Northern Dancer Turf.

Palio was in solid form when shipping in from his base at the Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland on Oct. 29, when he finished second while claimed for $32,000. The stakes-placed 5-year-old has been beaten double digits in both of his races since and is cheapening up from $25,000 while picking up the hot apprentice Fraser Aebly.

Apprentice Amanda Vandermeersch inherits the mount from Aebly on win-shy Stop the Humbug, who will be hard-pressed to double up against this caliber of competition.

C C’s Kingdom returned from a summer vacation to finish sixth in a seven-furlong event Oct. 20. He ran second in back-to-back starter/optional claimers at the more suitable distance of 1 1/16 miles in his last two outings.

Derzkii finished 11th in the 2021 Queen’s Plate after getting promoted from fourth to third by disqualification in the Plate Trial Stakes. He won his fourth start off the bench Oct. 29 and is coming off back-to-back thirds in two more 1 1/16-mile Tapeta routes. Trainer Phil Hall has won at an 11 percent clip second time off a claim during the past five years, with a return on investment of 84 cents.

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