Final Redemption cuts back in quest to break losing streak
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The classy Maryland shipper Final Redemption tries to end a drought Friday at Woodbine in the $58,600 feature on grass. Perhaps a cutback in distance to seven furlongs will enable her to get back on track in the first-level allowance.
Final Redemption, a 4-year-old trained by Graham Motion, came from fourth to land her debut in a six-furlong maiden special weight race over yielding turf last July at Belmont. She subsequently ran second in the restricted Tenski Stakes at Saratoga but was a beaten favorite in her next three outings, including when she checked in second in the restricted Carotene Stakes here in October.
Final Redemption faded to seventh after a stalking trip when she came off the sidelines April 11 at Keeneland. Most recently, she wound up fourth in another allowance in her first non-turf start, traveling 1 1/16 miles here on Polytrack.
Patrick Husbands retains the mount on Final Redemption. He also was aboard when she ran well in the 1 1/8-mile Carotene.
Ten other fillies and mares were entered in the headliner, including the main-track-only runner Zia.
KEY CONTENDERS
Final Redemption (Last 3 Beyers: 73-73-81)
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Motion has surprisingly weak numbers at Woodbine over the past five years, going 2 for 29, with a return on investment of 51 cents.
Virreina (Last 3 Beyers: 75-57-69)
◗ She finished second in each of her three sprint races on grass last year, most notably in the restricted Passing Mood Stakes. She has been idle since Nov. 28, when she was third in a non-winners-of-three hybrid race for $40,000 claimers and Ontario-sired allowance stock.
Reserved (Last 3 Beyers: 24-52-64)
◗ One of the 3-year-olds in the lineup, this daughter of Kitten’s Joy capped her juvenile campaign with two straight losses by double-digit lengths in stakes, including a troubled fifth in the Grade 2 Natalma. She was visually impressive in her four-length maiden triumph over seven furlongs on this layout.
Adventure At Sea (Last 3 Beyers: 67-72-68)
◗ Like entrymate Reserved, she is making her first start of the year for trainer Ashlee Brnjas, who’s had some success with six-month-plus comebackers. She was a workmanlike winner over $40,000 non-winners-of-two foes going seven furlongs Oct. 5, when she was claimed by Colebrook Farms.
Sweet Brew (Last 3 Beyers: 68-40-59)
◗ She just missed in her season opener on Polytrack, which should set her up nicely for the surface change to a course over which she posted a 42-1 upset over $40,000 conditioned-claiming company last August.