Highly Potent looks strong on turf or Tapeta

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – There is rain in the forecast for Friday and the possibility of Woodbine’s eighth race being switched to the Tapeta would suit Highly Potent just fine. Scheduled for about 1 1/8 miles in lane 3 on the main course, the maiden special carries a base purse of $74,300 and kicks off the late double on the expanded nine-race program.

Trained by Mark Casse for the partnership of Gary Barber and Pantofel Stable, Highly Potent had a wide trip when fourth on debut in a 7 1/2-furlong maiden special over the Gulfstream grass in late September. He was favored in a subsequent Tapeta route there Nov. 24, when a troubled trip led to a disappointing fifth-place finish.

Off a seven-month absence when going long on the Tapeta here June 26, Highly Potent ran wide for about half of his trip over an inside-biased surface. He checked in third behind the 1-2 favorite English Actor while earning a 68 Beyer Speed Figure.

Apprentice Pietro Moran has good stats for Casse and retains the mount on Highly Potent, a son of classic winner War of Will, who also won the Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile on the grass at Keeneland.

In a six-horse field without a confirmed front-runner, Magna Time could inherit an easy lead. He was forwardly placed before fading late to third when debuting in a seven-furlong maiden special on a sweltering day July 6.

Sahin Civaci will ride Magna Time again for trainer Kevin Attard, who was 1 for 9 with second-out maidens going from a sprint to a route over the past five years, with a return on investment of $2.08.

Weller Green, who has been scratched several times, is unraced since a dull eighth-place finish among two next-out winners in a 1 1/8-mile maiden special on Tapeta on Nov. 17. The first-time gelding placed in two turf routes in October, closing from left field against Ontario-sired and $40,000 maidens over the distance of Friday’s race in one of those outings. Fraser Aebly has the call on the 4-year-old for trainer Catherine Day-Phillips.

Conn Smythe became a turf specialist this spring, during which he ran fourth in a main course sprint and second in a 7 1/2-furlong inner turf course event, both versus Ontario-sired and $40,000 maidens. His pedigree leans more toward a mile than extended routes, but he might not be out of his league against this modest group. Ryan Munger will ride him again, and the South African native is 5 for 20 at the meet for trainer Barbara Minshall.

Royal Entry has never competed on turf, but breezed a bullet half-mile over the local training course July 13. The son of Grade 1-winning turf router Point of Entry is a full-brother to Holy Foley, who was an allowance winner at 1 1/2 miles on the grass at Keeneland.

Rounding out the field is Empower, who was unplaced in four starts on turf and Tapeta.