Finnerty's Frolic drops, looks tough

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Stakes-placed Finnerty's Frolic will get some class relief Wednesday at Woodbine, a $62,500 claimer for 3-year-old fillies.

Finnerty's Frolic was a bargain $40,000 claim last fall by Fort Erie-based trainer John Simms. In her first start for Simms, she was second to Ontheqt in the six-furlong Fanfreluche Stakes, and then capped her 2-year-old campaign with a front-running score in a six-furlong allowance.

Simms took Finnerty's Frolic to Florida for the winter, where she finished fourth and seventh in back-to-back stakes races at Tampa Bay Downs in January. She was freshened before her third-place finish in a five-furlong allowance here April 18, then easily won a five-furlong optional claimer May 9 at Fort Erie.

Most recently here in the seven-furlong Lady Angela Stakes, Finnerty's Frolic tracked a quick pace along the rail and ended up a well-beaten seventh after flattening out in the stretch. She should be a more effective stalking presence in this easier spot, with Emile Ramsammy back in the saddle.

Among the other six runners entered in the six-furlong dash are recent winners Geniver, Ritta, Dana's Lucky Lady, and Autumn Bliss.

Geniver, who was claimed for $50,000 in September by trainer Victor Ramos, won an $80,000 race in her second start of the meeting on May 13. She was a non-threatening fifth last time out, in an entry-level allowance on the grass, and has worked a half-mile in 49 seconds in the interim.

Ritta benefited from a speed bias when she defeated $25,000 maidens going five furlongs in her May 5 debut, and is getting Lasix for this race. Apprentice Corey Fraser, who bagged a double last Sunday, retains the mount on Ritta for trainer Ralph Biamonte, a combo that is 1 for 1 at the meeting.

Dana's Lucky Lady won her second start at 2 before finishing third in the restricted Shady Well Stakes. She polished off allowance opposition in her final 2-year-old start last August, and did not raced again until April 25, when she ran third in the six-furlong Star Shoot Stakes.

Dana's Lucky Lady bombed in the slop while meeting older allowance opposition in her penultimate outing but is coming off a confidence-boosting win over $50,000 claimers.

Autumn Bliss figures to set the pace under Kristopher Robinson, who will replace the injured David Clark. Autumn Bliss graduated in a romp over $20,000 maidens at Fort Erie in September and beat Geniver when she wired $40,000 claimers here May 1.