Hubbert's Peak tries turf in allowance

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Hubbert's Peak has been knocking on the door at the nonwinners-of-two Ontario-sired allowance class and should be favored at that level in his first turf attempt in Friday's eighth and final race.

Hubbert's Peak, who had an unproductive 2007 campaign, was claimed for just $10,000 on Dec. 9 by trainer Scott Fairlie.

Hubbert's Peak got the winter off and finished second when he came off the sidelines in a five-furlong allowance April 18. Two weeks later, he was beaten a head by a sharp Tree Rings after encountering traffic problems in a 5 1/2-furlong dash.

Most recently, over six furlongs, Hubbert's Peak broke a bit slowly before closing for second behind a runaway winner. He registered his second consecutive Beyer Speed Figure of 84.

Hubbert's Peak is a full brother to minor turf stakes winner Bosskiri, who preferred the main track. His three-quarter sister Dressed for Action won the Ontario Damsel Stakes on the grass.

Fairlie is 0 for 19 first time on the turf during the past five years. He will give jockey Na Somsanith a leg up on Hubbert's Peak.

Other contenders in the six-furlong feature include Naked Nues, Maple Tints, Swinton, and Power of Attorney.

Naked Nues finished a distant third behind Hubbert's Peak when returning from an extended layoff May 28. In his lone turf outing, he dueled up front in an allowance sprint last July before weakening to third behind Michael's Bad Boy and Blue Deputy.

Corey Fraser will ride Naked Nues for trainer Ralph Biamonte. That combination won an optional claimer on the grass last Sunday with the speedy Starticus.

Maple Tints rallied wide from far back to record a 21-1 upset on the grass in a one-mile maiden special May 28.

Swinton graduated second time out last September on the turf, trouncing a modest field over seven furlongs. He finished far back on the Polytrack following an eight-month layoff May 28.

Power of Attorney is an intriguing longshot in his turf debut. He scored once in 10 starts last year and was a non-threatening fifth in his season opener. Power of Attorney is by Grade 2 stakes winner Crown Attorney, who banked $937,702 on the grass.