Dewolf hunting down back-to-back wins
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Dewolf ended a long drought when scoring with authority under apprentice Christoff Douglas in his much-improved last outing. He will try to keep the ball rolling in Saturday’s sixth race at Woodbine, a first-level allowance/optional-claimer going 7 1/2 furlongs around two turns on the inner turf.
Trained by Kevin Attard, Dewolf was among the leading 2-year-olds on the grounds in 2024, during which he won the restricted Bull Page Stakes and finished second in both the Grade 3 Grey and Coronation Futurity.
Dewolf endured the sophomore slump last year, however, during which he went winless in six starts, the best of which was a fifth behind Mansetti and Tom’s Magic in the King’s Plate.
Dewolf didn’t show much in his first two starts this spring on the Tapeta. Switching to a mile on the inner turf June 25, the son of Silent Name opened up a clear lead on the backstretch and went on to prevail by 5 1/4 lengths in the non-winners-of-three hybrid event for Ontario-sired allowance types and $40,000 claimers.
Douglas will ride Dewolf again for the partnership of Lanni Bloodstock and Canuck Racing Club.
Among the others in the eight-horse field are Laskay, Wagner, Real Savvy, Hemlo Gold, and Twowaycrossing.
Laskay made quite a splash when debuting in a Tapeta sprint May 17. Competing with a $40,000 claiming tag, the 4-year-old went straight to the front and never looked back to win by 8 3/4 lengths with an 85 Beyer Speed Figure.
A son of 11 percent turf sire Yorkton, Laskay is out of Western Tally, an allowance winner sprinting on turf who finished second in the Catch a Glimpse Stakes on the grass.
Rafael Hernandez retains the mount on Laskay for trainer Katerina Vassilieva, a very successful combo.
Wagner checked in third in three straight starts at this level, all on Tapeta, leading up to this engagement. He has fared okay on the grass while scoring once in nine starts. Trainer Sylvain Pion has secured Romero Maragh to replace Sofia Vives, who is currently riding at Colonial Downs.
Real Savvy, a front-runner trained by Mike Wright Jr., finished second in five of seven starts this year, including in each of his last four outings. The son of Authentic is equally adept on either surface and could take some catching under Eswan Flores.
Hemlo Gold was claimed for $25,000 in each of his last two races, most recently by trainer Bill Tharrenos, when the son of Queen’s Plate victor Not Bourbon finished fourth on the inner turf.
Twowaycrossing has been sidelined since romping at this level when tagged for $32,000 going 1 1/2 miles on the inner course Sept. 27. Trainer Richard Morden claimed him then from the now retired Roger Attfield. Twowaycrossing might be prepping for a longer race here while protected by waiver claiming.
Post time for the 10-race Saturday card is 1:00 p.m.
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