Half Sister finds spot in sprint

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The impeccably bred Half Sister has seemingly found a cozy spot in Thursday's Woodbine headliner, a $62,500 optional claimer for fillies and mares.

The expectations were always high for Half Sister, who is a half-sister to 2003 Canadian Triple Crown winner Wando. She is by the successful sire More Than Ready, and her dam, Kathie's Colleen, won the Grade 2 Monmouth Oaks. However, it took Half Sister nine starts to win her maiden, which she did by nearly five lengths in her second grass start, on July 4.

Half Sister doubled up with authority in a first-level allowance on Aug. 4, earning a lifetime-best 86 Beyer Speed Figure in the 6 1/2-furlong turf event. The runner-up, One Across, romped in allowance company in her next appearance.

Half Sister was bet down to 5-2 most recently in the restricted Belle Geste Stakes, but she finished a tired fifth after setting the fractions. On Thursday, Emile Ramsammy will ride her for trainer Mike Keogh, and he figures to have her on or near the lead after breaking from the outside post.

The others in the 6 1/2-furlong turf sprint are Greeley's Flame, Name in Lights, Danceroftherealm, Tale of the Fox, Second Offense, and Star Operator. West Beware was entered for the Polytrack only.

Greeley's Flame won 5 of 8 outings last year, for earnings of $169,983, but is winless in five starts at this stand. She narrowly lost an $80,000 optional claimer on the Polytrack on June 20, before running two drab races over that surface.

Greeley's Flame is coming off a troubled run on the grass at Thursday's level, where she was promoted from third to second by disqualification.

Name in Lights came from far back along the inside to capture a turf allowance for non-winners of two going seven furlongs on June 9. She went on to finish fifth and then third at this level, and might benefit from a turn-back in distance from a mile.

Danceroftherealm was victorious twice over this turf course in 2006, but was a non-factor in her two starts this year.

Tale of the Fox took back-to-back Polytrack sprints in June and July, but she failed to stay a mile on the grass in her latest excursion.