Hollinger seems well-suited for first route

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Two-year-olds will be in the spotlight in three of the non-claiming events on Friday's 10-race card at Woodbine, and Hollinger could have the brightest future in the third, a mile-and-70-yard first-level allowance.

Hollinger, trained by Hall of Famer Roger Attfield, came wide from a stalking position to win his lone outing in a six-furlong maiden special on Aug. 28. His final time of 1:10.89 translated into an 81 Beyer Speed Figure, one of the highest Beyers earned by a 2-year-old here this year.

Hollinger should go long. The average win distance of his sire's offspring is 7.4 furlongs. His dam is by the stamina sire Dynaformer, and her only other starter, Alkmaar, won her maiden around two turns here on the Polytrack.

Tyler Pizarro retains the mount on Hollinger, an Ontario-bred who is owned by his breeders, Robert Harvey and Al Wortzman.

Other third-race contenders include Ascot Matt, Battle Royal, and D's Wando.

Ascot Matt led throughout a mile-and-70-yard maiden special in his third start Aug. 30. Two weeks ago, he changed styles and rallied wide from well back to end up second in a mile-and-70-yard allowance.

Battle Royal graduated following a layoff as a first-time gelding Sept. 12. He led gate-to-wire in that 6 1/2-furlong maiden special, receiving a 72 Beyer. A son of Saint Liam, he has a blend of speed and stamina in his bloodlines.

D's Wando found the mark in his third appearance, in a seven-furlong maiden special, for which he was awarded a 70 Beyer. He was a fading seventh most recently in the seven-furlong Simcoe Stakes, but he possesses sufficient endurance in his pedigree for the task at hand.

Tee Game, Solar Blessing, and She Wants are among the protagonists in the second, a six-furlong allowance for 2-year-old fillies.

Tee Game toppled $50,000 maidens after racing wide in a 5 1/2-furlong sprint Aug. 22. She also had a wide journey Sept. 7, in the restricted Muskoka Stakes, but managed to finish a close third in that slowly run event.

Solar Blessing beat two next-out winners when she won her only start by a nose in a five-furlong maiden special on Aug. 28.

She Wants is coming off a runner-up placing against $40,000 opposition, in her first start off a layoff and a $32,000 claim.

Airofindifference, the runner-up in Hollinger's maiden victory, should be a major player in the eighth, a seven-furlong maiden special.