Firestone entry looks best on turf

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The Morgan Firestone-owned entry of Backgammon and Gone Trajectory should be well-backed in Thursday's Woodbine headliner, a one-mile Ontario-sired allowance on the grass.

Backgammon is trained by Ian Black, who captured this year's Queen's Plate with the Firestone-owned Mike Fox.

Backgammon has started twice on the turf. He was a wide-closing fifth, beaten just over a length by victorious Legal Move, in the restricted Bold Ruckus Stakes on June 13. Two races ago, he won an Ontario-sired allowance for nonwinners-of-two with a Beyer Speed Figure of 80.

Backgammon never fired most recently in an allowance at Thursday's nonwinners-of-three condition, which was moved to the Polytrack. He breezed a quick half-mile last Friday, and Justin Stein has the mount.

Gone Trajectory won his season opener in a two-turn allowance on the Poly, while beating Rahy's Attorney. He tried the turf for the first time in an Aug. 16 allowance and was seventh behind Rahy's Attorney, who came back to win the Vice Regent Stakes. The third-place finisher in the Aug. 16 turf allowance, My Imperial Dancer, came back to take the Halton Stakes with a 90 Beyer.

Emma Wilson retains the mount on Gone Trajectory, who is trained by David Bell.

Also entered are Michael's Bad Boy, Tree Rings, No Dilettante, Just Always, and Mystic Dash.

Michael's Bad Boy is exiting the aforementioned key race, where he faded to finish sixth after stalking the early leaders. He won back-to-back Ontario-sired turf sprints in June and July, before ending up third in a two-turn event on the Poly.

Richard Dos Ramos picks up the mount on Michael's Bad Boy. John LeBlanc Jr. trains the half-brother to stakes winner Sophia's Prince.

Tree Rings has finished second in three straight seven-furlong allowances and possesses the highest recent Beyers in the lineup. He lost his next-to-last outing by just a head to Silver Strip, who subsequently won a minor stakes at Fort Erie. Tree Rings met open company just 11 days ago and was beaten two lengths by a sharp Wollemi Pine.

No Dilettante brings solid form to this event, but is winless in 10 starts since his allowance score last November on the Poly.