Drexler has co-highweights in Midsummer Handicap
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Marty Drexler sends out the 124-pound co-highweights Kitten’s Romance and Zisisit in Friday’s $60,000 Midsummer Handicap at Woodbine. The one-mile inner turf event is a starter limited to fillies and mares who competed for $25,000 or less in 2024-25.
Kitten’s Romance has only been worse than second once in her last seven outings, dating back a year. Fortunately for Drexler, there was a $15,000 claim voided on her when she won for fun in late October, after which she went to the sidelines.
When returning from a seven-month break May 29, Kitten’s Romance ran second at a short price on the Tapeta before a narrow loss in a first-level allowance/optional claimer over 7 1/2 furlongs on the inner turf. She prevailed with determination in a one-mile main turf route when tagged for $32,000 July 12.
Sahin Civaci, who swept both Woodbine stakes last Saturday, rides Kitten’s Romance again. A 10-time winner in 46 starts, she breaks from post 1 in the seven-horse field.
Inner turf specialist Zisisit is a little classier than her stablemate. The Irish-bred won three inner turf routes from six starts last year before heading to Florida for the winter. She just missed in her 6-year-old debut at Gulfstream Park in January before a pair of fringe finishes there. Zisisit then found the mark in front-running style in a first-level allowance/optional claimer on the inner course here June 1.
Zisisit was favored in a July 13 conditioned allowance/optional claimer that was moved from the turf to the Tapeta. After a rail-hugging trip in third, she began to fade on the far turn en route to a distant fourth-place finish. From post 2, she should go off favored while being reunited with Rafael Hernandez, who was aboard for her last score.
Destiny Ro and Flying Black have both been pegged at 122 pounds by racing secretary Scott Lane.
Destiny Ro won a hybrid main turf route for nonwinners-of-two allowance types and $50,000 3-year-olds when she ran for the claiming price Sept. 1. She has improved with each subsequent race this year, finishing a wide third while trying to clear the first allowance condition on the main turf July 12.
Daisuke Fukumoto retains the mount on Destiny Ro, who was claimed by trainer Randy Thompson for $25,000 in the spring of 2024.
Flying Black is riding a two-race win streak on Tapeta for trainer Darwin Banach. The Not This Time mare won a June 10 starter/optional claimer at Presque Isle and a $25,000 claimer here by 2 1/2 lengths on July 10, both under apprentice Pietro Moran.
Flying Black took one of nine turf starts last year. With Moran riding without his apprentice allowance, she should be forwardly placed in a race without much speed.
Completing the eighth-race lineup are Katherine’s Gem, Voice From Above, and Speedy Freeze.
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