Drink in My Hand will try to improve focus with blinkers
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Drink in My Hand adds blinkers off a subpar performance in Friday’s co-featured Ontario-sired optional claimer at Woodbine, which should make him tough to beat in the six-furlong sprint.
Drink in My Hand, a 4-year-old gelding trained by Josie Carroll, began his season with an authoritative score in a six-furlong maiden special weight race June 26. He doubled up a month later in an Ontario-sired allowance for non-winners of two, earning a career-high 81 Beyer Speed Figure.
It was surprising to see Drink in My Hand lose a seven-furlong race at Friday’s non-winners-of-three level Aug. 26, when he ran second to the eventual stakes winner Goodoldhockeygame, who has evolved into one of the leading sprinters on the grounds.
Drink in My Hand came off a two-month break Nov. 1 and lost all chance of winning after ducking in at the gap leaving the chute in a 6 1/2-furlong optional claimer. Blinkers should have him more focused on Friday, when Luis Contreras will ride him again.
Five others were entered against Drink in My Hand in race 3. The second race, for fillies and mares, also combines Ontario-sired allowance stock with $40,000 conditioned claimers.
KEY CONTENDERS
Drink in My Hand (Last 3 Beyers: 66-79-81)
◗ After breezing a half-mile in 48.80 seconds Nov. 12, he appears to be in fine fettle, and the closer has some speed to chase.
Call Me Wally (Last 3 Beyers: 77-93-69)
◗ The big chestnut gelding won his first two starts from off the pace in the summer on Polytrack and turf. His only poor showing in five starts came over a mile on turf in the Vice Regent Stakes on Aug. 30.
◗ He put up a huge 93 Beyer two starts back in a nose loss to Copperplate, who returned to capture an open allowance. He also lost in a win photo most recently after getting bet down to favoritism.
Mechanical (Last 3 Beyers: 75-74-72)
◗ The stretch runner competed against a speed bias when a belated fourth Nov. 1. He found the mark in two of his three previous excursions in the Ontario-sired ranks.
◗ Leading rider Eurico Da Silva picks up the mount on the 4-year-old gelding, which could make him an underlay in the betting.
The Feather Lands (Last 3 Beyers: 77-72-69)
◗ The 3-year-old gelding ended a drought Nov. 1 when he rode a speed bias to victory in a six-furlong allowance.
◗ Patrick Husbands will ride him again for trainer Bob Tiller, a combination that is 11 for 54 at the meet.