Favorite No Comprende understands how to win
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - No Comprende has quite a following. He has been the favorite in each of his three starts since returning from a summer layoff, and has kept his backers happy for the most part by crossing the wire on top on all three occasions.
No Comprende will move up to the second allowance level in Wednesday's Woodbine feature, and should be well backed again. A competitive field of nine is entered for the 1 1/16-mile race for $62,500 optional claimers.
No Comprende struggled in the maiden ranks while showing some promise in the spring, but he graduated with authority coming off the shelf Aug. 29. Surprisingly, he took a lot of late money in that 1 1/16-mile maiden race, and came from just off the pace to win by seven lengths in fast time.
No Comprende was equally impressive at the first allowance condition a month later, but was disqualified and placed ninth for bumping a rival at the three-eighths pole. He earned a career high 90 Beyer Speed Figure in the process.
Most recently, in a one-mile allowance over yielding turf, No Comprende rallied wide from well off the pace to win by a half-length over a sharp Warleigh.
Patrick Husbands retains the mount on No Comprende, who is trained by James Smith for Clarity Stable and Clint Abraham.
Rounding out the field are Eastern War Lord, Everyday Hero, Nautical Allegro, Brushing Bully, Mr. Perpetuity, Gallop'n Gold, Valid N Bold, and Wicklow Highlands.
Brushing Bully is the best-known runner in the field, having finished third in the first two legs of the 2001 Canadian Triple Crown, the Queen's Plate and Prince of Wales Stakes.
A Stronach Stable homebred, Brushing Bully was shelved for most of the summer, and was third behind Plate runner-up Win City and Magic Flute when he returned to action Sept. 15 in the Col. R.S. McLaughlin Handicap.
David Clark rides for trainer Kevin Attard.
Everyday Hero has won two in a row since he was claimed for $40,000 by trainer Vito Armata in August. He dusted an inflated $50,000 group Sept. 13, and is coming off another easy score over $80,000 3-year-olds, a race in which he ran a 91 Beyer.
Valid N Bold is another productive recent claim. Despite Valid N Bold's poor form, trainer Sid Attard paid $40,000 for him Sept. 21, and sent him out to beat a solid field of $50,000 runners Oct. 8.
Eastern War Lord benefited from No Comprende's disqualification on Sept. 23, when he was moved up from second place to first.