Gierkink's preview: Rain softens turf course

Wednesday, July 30, preview

Silent Treat probably out of Victoriana

Silent Treat, the morning-line favorite for the $125,000 Victoriana Stakes, wound up fifth in last Sunday’s Grade 3 Royal North Stakes and likely will be scratched from Wednesday’s 1 1/16-mile turf event for Ontario-sired females, according to trainer Scott Fairlie.

It rained heavily at Woodbine on Monday, and there’s more rain in the forecast, so the course shouldn’t be as hard and as kind to speed as it was Sunday. The ground on the backstretch had some give to it when I walked on it Tuesday morning.

Fairlie also entered Professor’s Ride, who has struggled this year but took the one-mile La Prevoyante Stakes over yielding ground last year. Fairlie said things didn’t go her way last out, when she failed to threaten in a $32,000 claiming sprint.

“Last time, we took her back, and she went wide on the turn and didn’t like that,” Fairlie said. “I think she’ll be more comfortable going [1 1/16 miles).”

Strut the Course should be favored off an allowance victory on Polytrack. She was beaten a neck by Professor’s Ride as the favorite the only time she competed on grass in the Sept. 7 La Prevoyante.

“She handles the turf just fine,” said trainer Barb Minshall.

Front-runners Moonlit Beauty and Hobnobsnob also are in the big field, which could shrink a little due to scratches. Cantbeatthestory, who was supplemented for $2,500, should draw in off the also-eligible list.

Jackpot Hi 5 carryover of $82,988

Because of the huge (14-horse) field in the eighth race, the Jackpot Hi 5 could be won outright, as long as some of the favorites tank in the contentious $8,000 maiden claimer going seven furlongs.

Eli Ana could wake up under the live bug Sheena Ryan. She’s coming off a troubled seventh-place finish in a key six-furlong sprint at this level, and you can also ignore her previous double-digit loss around two turns.

Horse to Watch

MONEY TALKER
Trainer: Sid Attard
Last race: July 27, 9th
Finish: 1st by 3 1/4
Beyer: 90
After pressing a moderate pace, he blew away a decent field of optional claimers going 1 3/8 miles in his first try over an extended distance on grass. The Stronach Stable-owned 5-year-old by hot turf sire Silent Name could double up next time in the fourth start of his form cycle.