Field of eight leaves plenty to consider in feature

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – One can poke holes in all eight entrants in Friday’s featured first-level allowance route with a $32,000-claiming option on the Tapeta at Woodbine.

Malibu Uproar has displayed hanging tendencies while running competitively on the grass since returning from a sabbatical in the summer. The 7-year-old just missed in a $25,000 claimer over seven furlongs on the main course July 28, when he was hit by a rival’s crop in deep stretch and got the win by disqualification.

Malibu Uproar made his last two starts going 1 1/16 miles with a $32,000 tag at Friday’s level. He rallied to finish a half-length back in second on Sept. 17, and was a belated third behind the stakes-performing 3-year-olds Dancin in Da’nile and Lac Macaza on Oct. 30.

Malibu Uproar is winless in five synthetic-track excursions, but a repeat of his second against $40,000 claimers last November on the Tapeta might be good enough to get the job done. Justin Stein will ride him for trainer Kevin Attard, who also entered Full Extreme.

Full Extreme beat $40,000 claimers twice on the main track in May before a summer freshening. He failed to crack the top three in his last three outings, most recently in the anchor leg of the Woodbine Turf Endurance Series.

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Mad Mocha figures to cut loose on an easy lead, but the 1 1/8-mile distance of Friday’s engagement is stretching it for the late-blooming 3-year-old. He earned a 75 Beyer Speed Figure when graduating over 1 1/16 miles on Oct. 30, which is well below the Beyer par of 81 for this level.

Sir Sahib toiled in allowance and stakes company during the first half of the meet. Off a $40,000 claim most recently, he rallied along a golden rail to beat nonwinners-of-three Ontario-sired and $40,000 claimers with an 82 Beyer, his first win in 3 1/2 years. Trainer Don MacRae has scored at a 16 percent clip second time off a claim over the past five years, with a return on investment of $1.46.

Grandson prevailed in three of his first five appearances at the meet in sprints on different surfaces. He competed over middle distances in his last three outings, running an uncharacteristically dull race most recently at this level on the main turf. Rafael Hernandez will ride him for the first time for trainer John LeBlanc Jr., who has decent stats going from turf to synthetic.

Steak and Cheese is shedding some weight with apprentice Slade Jones riding for trainer Marty Drexler, who claimed the 4-year-old for $20,000 at Gulfstream in March. He beat nonwinners-of-three opposition in July and was fourth behind Malibu Uproar when returning from another layoff Oct. 30. The turf expert was fifth in his lone synthetic-track start at Gulfstream.

Completing the field are turf marathoner Canadian Pharoah and Bringer of Rain, who’s coming off a third in the Grade 3 Ontario Derby where he got a co-career-high 77 Beyer.

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