'Earthquake' hitting her peak now

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Earthquake Ride could be peaking at the right time in Thursday's fourth race at Woodbine, a $40,000 conditioned claimer on the grass. A field of seven fillies and mares was drawn for the one-mile turf event, for non-winners of three lifetime.

Earthquake Ride, 3, was stakes-placed last year at The Meadowlands and won a 1 1/8-mile allowance at Gulfstream in April. After running off form in two second-level allowances at Monmouth Park in the summer, she was sent here to trainer Norm McKnight.

Earthquake Ride has improved in each local outing. She was 10th off a two-month layoff in the Ontario Colleen Handicap, then was seven lengths behind the winner in a tough $62,500 optional claimer.

Most recently in a $50,000 claimer, Earthquake Ride made a wide bid off slow fractions to enter serious contention in the stretch. But she weakened late to finish third behind My Wild Rhoda and a trip-troubled Crystal Harmony.

Earthquake Ride has the highest recent Beyer Speed Figures in Thursday's race and figures to take some beating under jockey Rui Pimentel.

Cruising Executive and Moment of Peace, both former stakes performers, are looking to turn around their recent fortunes.

Cruising Executive won the restricted Passing Mood Stakes last year, but hasn't won since. She ran poorly at this $40,000 level in her penultimate start, but showed signs of life when sixth last out, in a $62,500 optional claimer.

Cruising Executive's connections - owner Bill Sorokolit, trainer Phil England, and jockey David Clark - won a maiden race Friday with Kain's Deed.

Moment of Peace found her niche on the grass, winning a one-mile allowance in June. She subsequently finished third in the Ontario Damsel Stakes and was eighth in the Wonder Where Stakes.

After running flat in an Aug. 19 allowance, Moment of Peace ran fourth as one of the favorites in a $40,000 race Sept. 12. She was claimed that day by trainer Reade Baker, who has won with 3 of his last 6 starters off a claim.