Fracen Macho knocking on the door to break into win column

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Fracen Macho has run two solid races on different surfaces and will look to take care of business in Friday’s finale, a 6 1/2-furlong turf sprint for Ontario-sired and $40,000 maidens.

Trained by breeder Paul Buttigieg, Fracen Macho debuted May 19. Sent off at 11-1 in a 5 1/2-furlong Tapeta sprint, the son of Frac Daddy vied for the early lead before regressing on the turn en route to finishing second behind an easy winner.

Fracen Macho competed under the same conditions as Friday’s nightcap most recently June 14. After stalking the leaders in fourth on the backstretch, he closed the gap through the stretch and wound up a half-length back of favored Summer Commander in second.

Eswan Flores will ride Fracen Macho again, and the 3-year-old gelding could be favored in the large field. Going back five years, Buttigieg was 9 for 55 (16 percent) with maiden third-time starters, with an excellent return on investment of $5.03.

Quiet Knight finished just a neck behind Fracen Macho after fighting for the lead when switching from Tapeta to turf in his much-improved second race.

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Apprentice Pietro Moran retains the mount on Quiet Knight for trainer Kevin Attard. They’re a combined 4 for 24 at the meet, and Attard won at a 13 percent clip with maiden third-out runners over the past five years.

Fast Friends is eligible to jump up with the addition of blinkers. He debuted in the aforementioned June 14 contest and finished fifth, 4 1/2 lengths behind Fracen Macho, after saving ground through the turn and steadying at the eighth pole.

Ryan Munger will ride Fast Friends again for 10 percent second-out conditioner Catherine Day Phillips.

Clive Cross and Jaggersgotagun are two older runners who have had many chances.

Clive Cross is without a top-three finish in nine starts, but he was along for fourth in his June 9 season opener in a five-furlong inner turf dash and could be eligible to improve. Keveh Nicholls picks up the mount on 5-year-old; he teamed up with trainer Krista Cole to finish third on longshot Wicked Django in last Saturday’s Grade 3 Dominion Day.

Jaggersgotagun was a belated third in his lone turf outing going long last fall. Returning from a layoff under Jose Campos on June 15, the 4-year-old set the pace before giving way late to finish second to the debuting Next Pitch.

Diomedes and Captive Silence are both trying the grass for the first time with some breeding for the task at hand.

Diomedes is dropping off a fade job going long on the Tapeta in his local bow. The son of 14 percent turf sprint sire Munnings is the first foal from the stakes-winning turf sprinter Travieza.

Captive Silence, who placed in one of his two races, is by excellent grass sire Silent Name and out of an allowance winner here on the main turf.

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