Drexler sends out pair of in-form veterans
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The consistent 10-year-old Reconfigure is the marquee horse in Friday’s opening leg of the Woodbine Turf Sprint Series. Those looking for a viable alternative to the favorite should consider his Marty Drexler-trained stablemate Silent Flash in the $25,000 starter allowance, which has a $40,000 claiming option.
Silent Flash was winless in 13 races heading into his June 17 season opener, where he competed with a $15,000 tag. Over the same five-furlong distance and inner course of Friday’s feature, he vied for the lead with two rivals on the turn before drawing off for an authoritative score in a quick clocking.
Drexler, who claimed Silent Flash for owner Bruno Schickedanz that day, has won at a 26 percent clip off the claim since the beginning of last year, with a return on investment of $2.30. David Moran will ride the 8-year-old again, his first mount for Drexler in nearly two years.
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Reconfigure hasn’t missed the board in seven starts since Drexler claimed him for $20,000 on Nov. 27. He wintered at Gulfstream, where he won a $20,000 claimer in January before placing in back-to-back $25,000 starter allowances, all on the Tapeta.
Reconfigure posted two subpar thirds here early in the meet on the Tapeta, before getting back on track with a victory over $25,000 claimers on the main turf June 3. He raced wide with a $32,000 tag last time in a five-furlong allowance/optional claimer on the inner turf, finishing a chalky third under regular rider Kazushi Kimura.
Reconfigure is a veteran of this series, having won a leg in both 2019 and 2020.
Souper Success battled four wide for the lead with three others on the turn before ending up fifth last time in the six-furlong Ontario Jockey Club Stakes for Ontario-sired runners on the Tapeta. His last two inner turf tries in 2021 were disappointing, but the classy 6-year-old won a five-furlong inner turf allowance for Ontario-sired runners in 2019.
Niagara Skyline began the meet with back-to-back triumphs racing for a $40,000 tag, most recently against nonwinners of two lifetime going 6 1/2 furlongs on the main turf. Five furlongs may be a little short for him, but he’s a good fit Beyer Speed Figure-wise and could hit the ticket off the claim with Emma-Jayne Wilson aboard.
Salvator Mundi also seems better suited to longer sprints. He was a creditable third in a competitive 13-horse field of $40,000 claimers in his second appearance of the season on the main course June 12.
After vying for the lead along the rail, Sunspear faded to finish just behind Souper Success in sixth in the Ontario Jockey Club Stakes. His lone tally from four turf starts came by disqualification on the main course in September 2020.
Rounding out the fifth-race field are Four Aces High and Emicrack.