Desire and Fire may find herself loose on the lead

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Thursday’s eighth race at Woodbine was originally on the portion of last Friday’s card that was canceled due to high winds. Desire and Fire was a contender in the original version of the Ontario-sired allowance, but the need-to-lead type looks even better Thursday because she’s the lone speed in the one-mile grass route for nonwinners of three races lifetime.

Desire and Fire went winless in 15 starts last year, while failing to finish higher than third, but she has improved dramatically on the turf this year at age 5. She won her second start of the meet on that surface over about nine furlongs in front-running style, earning a 75 Beyer Figure in that Ontario-sired allowance. Her next race came off the grass, and she was beaten a pole after flashing her customary speed.

Desire and Fire was dismissed at nearly 20-1 last time in the Aug. 15 Victoriana Stakes, in which she ran a corker to finish a clear second, over a course labeled good. She held a substantial lead through the turn in that 1 1/16-mile route for Ontario-sired females, before being overhauled in the midstretch by the heavily-favored Impossible Time.

David Garcia will ride Desire and Fire, who is trained by Alison Crook.

Carrtowns Katie is 0 for 14 on synthetics, and 2 for 3 on the turf, over which she won her maiden last September for trainer Bill Tharrenos.

Carrtowns Katie had an unproductive spring campaign on Polytrack, but she began to the corner when third in her next-to-last outing on that surface. She ran the race of her life most recently Aug. 27, when she captured an Ontario-sired allowance on the turf by two lengths, earning a solid 79 Beyer.

Chantal Sutherland retains the mount on Carrtowns Katie, who figures to assume a stalking position on the backstretch.

Executive Bonnie has done most of her optimum running in sprints. She graduated on Polytrack in her second appearance at this meet, and then doubled up in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance on the grass before missing the board in both of her starts at this level.

Yonge’s Harbour is a 5-year-old mare with a record of 1-8-1 in 28 outings. She had a wide journey from post 12 in her recent subpar performance, and will begin from post 1 in this 10-horse field.

Spend Now and Save could be factor in her third start off a layoff.