Galvaston looks to get over hump in turf-sprint feature

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Galvaston should finally register his second win by the end of the Woodbine meet, and perhaps Friday will be the day. The nominal feature is a six-furlong main-turf sprint that combines nonwinners-of-two Ontario-sired allowance types with $40,000 claimers.

The consistent Galvaston hasn’t been worse than fourth in five starts this year, but you have to go back 12 races to find his maiden victory in the fall of 2020.

Galvaston dropped a nose decision when tagged for $40,000 in his second start off the bench June 3. The son of Silent Name has been protected ever since under the Ontario-sired part of the race conditions, finishing third, fourth, and second in a trio of Tapeta sprints.

Most recently, Galvaston had a wide trip en route to finishing 1 3/4 lengths in arrears and earned a 73 Beyer Speed Figure, one of the highest in Friday’s 10-horse field.

David Moran will ride Galvaston again for trainer Mike Doyle. The 4-year-old is owned and was bred by Scott Abbott, co-creator of the board game Trivial Pursuit.

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With blinkers on, Souper Rush has been touted by trainer Mike Mattine as a wake-up prospect in his third start off the sidelines. He made the board in all three of his juvenile races last year before a lackluster start to his current campaign. Three-quarters on the main turf might hit him right between the eyes.

Dragon’s Key, Galway Waters, Boxer Brief, and Big Warden are all competing on the grass for the first time.

Dragon’s Key is by 12 percent turf sire Milwaukee Brew. His unraced dam has dropped two winners from five turf starters, including his stakes-placed full brother Dragon’s Brew. Trainer Robert Tiller has good stats with first-time turf runners and is 4 for 9 at the meet when using leading rider Kazushi Kimura.

Galway Waters won his Aug. 25 debut with ease at 19-1 under little-known jockey Josh Scott, seemingly a betting coup for his connections. By the 16 percent grass sire Society’s Chairman, Galway Waters is a half-brother to Giant Waters, who finished third in both the Cup and Saucer Stakes and Coronation Futurity before graduating over a mile here on the main course.

Boxer Brief is making his 12th start after wiring $25,000 maidens on Aug. 13. His sire, Leonnatus Anteas, has gotten 13 percent turf winners, and his dam won on the lawn, but neither of her two turf runners have found the mark.

Big Warden is out of a mare who produced five turf winners, including his stakes-placed full sister Sav and restricted stakes winner Cooler Mike. The front-runner is dropping off a fade job in the $100,400 Elgin, a stakes for graduates of Canadian yearling sales.

Completing the sixth-race field are Racing in the Rain, Where’s Neal, Rockstar Ro, and Light the Lamp.