As Expected shortens up

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - As Expected will try to get the job done while turning back from a route to 6 1/2 furlongs in Wednesday's Woodbine headliner, an $80,000 optional claimer on the grass.

As Expected, a speedy 8-year-old with $536,992 in earnings, was claimed for $40,000 in October 2003 by his current connections, Bruno Brother Farm and trainer Radlie Loney. He had a quiet campaign in 2006, winning just 1 of 8 starts, but was victorious in his second start off the sidelines this spring, a $62,500 optional claimer on the Polytrack.

Most recently in the Grade 3 Connaught Cup Stakes, As Expected set moderate fractions over a yielding turf course before ending up second to Eccentric, while earning a career-high 95 Beyer Speed Figure. The fourth-place finisher, Pellegrino, came back to win Sunday's Singspiel Stakes.

The last time he cut back from a route to a sprint, in a money allowance last August, As Expected squandered a four-length lead in the stretch and wound up third.

Loney, who won with a rejuvenated Cool Selection last Sunday, will give Richard Dos Ramos a leg up on As Expected, who competes with an $80,000 claiming tag.

Among the others entered in the feature are L'Argent, Zetetic, Morado, and Dalavin.

L'Argent could give As Expected a tussle on the lead. He won back-to-back allowances on the Polytrack last fall, before spending the winter in Florida with trainer Gail Cox.

L'Argent was a well-beaten fourth in his season opener in the Jacques Cartier Stakes. He experimented on the grass last time out, in the allowance prep for the Highlander Stakes, and faded to seventh after dueling with the eventual winner, heavily favored Stradivinsky.

Zetetic defeated second-level allowance opposition in December at Fair Grounds before ending up sixth there in the Colonel E.R. Bradley Handicap. When returning from a freshening in a $100,000 optional claimer here June 2, Zetetic overcame some traffic problems to end up third.

Morado hasn't started since December 2005, when he won a $62,500 optional claimer on the dirt.

Dalavin made a four-wide bid before weakening to fourth behind Zetetic in his second start of the meeting, on June 2. He won the 2004 Charlie Barley Stakes over this course.

Polytrack-only entrants Lakeville Rush and Twisted Wit both have a chance if the race comes off the grass.

The pick seven carryover is $44,194.