Fracen Macho takes on winners for first time

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Paul Buttigieg quietly has had a productive Woodbine meet, winning with 22 of 132 starters, good for a 17 percent win rate. His runners have banked more than $1 million, headed by the venerable multiple stakes winner Artie’s Storm, who won a recent conditioned allowance/optional claimer off a one-year layoff.

Buttigieg sends out two live runners on Friday’s card, including Fracen Macho in the seventh race for $25,000 nonwinners-of-two claimers.

Fracen Macho looked promising when a game second at first asking on the Tapeta in May. He subsequently ran second in two consecutive turf sprints before two straight surprisingly poor showings on the Tapeta, all against Ontario-sired and $40,000 maidens.

Three weeks after a chalky second on Aug. 31, Fracen Macho went back into the dumper when a flat fifth in another Tapeta sprint. Buttigieg moved him down to $25,000 most recently, and he won for fun with a 68 Beyer Speed Figure after awaiting room on the turn.

Friday, Fracen Macho competes over the six-furlong distance of his maiden win with Justin Stein inheriting the mount from Emma-Jayne Wilson, who was injured in spill Oct. 25 and is out for the year.

:: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets.

Midnight Tempesta should be favored in the seventh under Sahin Civaci, who was aboard when he crushed $25,000 maidens Sept. 1 with a 77 Beyer on the Tapeta. Trainer Santino DiPaola tried him against Ontario-sired nonwinners-of-two allowance and $40,000 stock Sept. 29, when the 4-year-old ran third with a 75 Beyer. The Beyer par for this level is 72.

Celentano has been competitive at the $25,000 nonwinners-of-two class since graduating in the spring and should threaten from off the pace. Leo Salles will ride him, as usual, for trainer Pat Parente, who’s also having a solid meet.

The Marty Drexler-trained High Cue could make some noise on the turnback. He went four wide on the first turn and three wide on the far bend before hitting the front in the stretch and then fading to fifth when descending to this level Oct. 20.

Buttigieg’s other runner is Today in the fifth race, a 6 1/2-furlong contest for $10,000 nonwinners-of-two claimers.

Today recorded his maiden victory against $10,000 opponents June 28, after which he was promoted from third to second in a $15,000 nonwinners-of-two turf sprint. He had a very wide trip in each of his last two starts at the same level, finishing third and a distant fifth in those two six-furlong events.

Image of Quality should be favored in the fifth under Civaci. The 4-year-old is one of two droppers from New York on the card trained by Chris Engelhart. He was sold after landing his debut on the Tapeta here in July 2023 and has toiled on the grass ever since. An awkward break led to his downfall Oct. 25, when he trailed in 12th in a starter/optional claimer following a layoff at Aqueduct.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.