Destroy Them stretches out in search of maiden win
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Destroy Them, who might be the most promising 3-year-old on Friday’s Woodbine card, makes his second start in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight route on the grass.
Destroy Them was outworked by the imposing stakes winner Conquest Enforcer in a five-furlong gate drill May 12, when he posted a quick time of 59.40 seconds. He debuted May 23 over seven furlongs on the Tapeta, making a three-wide bid for the lead in the stretch before weakening to finish second to the favored Papa Zulu.
Destroy Them breezed five-eighths around the cones over the turf training course in 1:00.80 on June 8. He is by the 14 percent grass sire Unbridled’s Song, and his dam produced four turf winners, most notably the stakes winners Utterly Cool and Smokey Fire, who captured the Grade 2 Highlander.
Ten races were carded for Friday, including a clockwise turf sprint that drew six $20,000 non-winners-of-two claimers.
KEY CONTENDERS
Destroy Them, by Unbridled’s Song
Beyer: 70
◗ He is sent out by leading trainer Mark Casse, who is 4 for 17 at the meet when teaming up with Gary Boulanger, who was aboard for the colt’s debut.
DRF Formulator fact: Casse has a 21 percent success rate with maiden second-timers going from synthetic to turf over the past five years, with a return on investment of $2.48.
Goldsmith, by Mineshaft
Beyers: 75-68
◗ The 4-year-old’s debut last summer wasn’t anything to write home about, but he closed for third when returning from the sidelines in a one-mile maiden special on the grass May 21.
Rebel Music, by Rebellion
Last 3 Beyers: 68-66-73
◗ The 4-year-old placed in three of five grass excursions. He rallied belatedly for fourth off a 10-month layoff in a maiden special turf sprint June 5, an effort that should set him up nicely for the stretch-out.
Hindianna Jones, by Smarty Jones
Beyer: 66
◗ After a troubled break, he closed five wide from 10th to finish a nonthreatening fourth behind Destroy Them in his debut. Horses by Smarty Jones have won at a respectable 14 percent clip on the grass.
Gotta Get Away, by Candy Ride
Beyer: 41
◗ His lone outing here Nov. 1 on the Polytrack was disappointing, but he’s worked solidly on turf and the Tapeta for his return to action. The son of the good turf sire Candy Ride is a half-brother to stakes winner Checkered Past, who placed on the grass for Sam-Son Farm and trainer Malcolm Pierce.