It's Game Knight could find Thursday feature a good fit
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The featured seventh race on Thursday at Woodbine is a new race in the condition book that suits late-maturing horses with ability such as It’s Game Knight perfectly.
The 6 1/2-furlong Tapeta sprint is restricted to 3-year-olds and up who have never won two, or 3-year-olds with a claiming price of $50,000.
It’s Game Knight closed wide from fifth to run second to favored His Time when debuting in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden-special on May 8, for which he got a 77 Beyer Speed Figure. He graduated with a more forward style by five lengths going six furlongs with a 76 Beyer Speed Figure most recently on May 29.
A 4-year-old gelding by the popular Violence, It’s Game Knight would have had to face tougher first-level allowance types at this point in his career in the past. This spot is easier, and he should be dangerous with Rafael Hernandez retaining the mount for trainer John Ross.
ibaro could vie for favoritism with It’s Game Knight in his second start. Jibaro got a 78 Beyer when wiring maiden-special rivals by four lengths going 5 1/2 furlongs at first asking May 22. A 3-year-old trained by Mark Casse, he must stretch his speed another furlong here with leading rider Kazushi Kimura back aboard.
Trainer Kevin Attard entered Rockstar Ro and Feelthebeat in the six-horse field.
After campaigning south of the border, Rockstar Ro is exiting a fifth-place finish in his first Tapeta start here in a first-level allowance.
Feelthebeat is coming off a flat third against 3-year-olds in a four-horse allowance won by Duke of Love, who returned to finish fourth in the Queenston Stakes.
Moira on schedule for Oaks
Attard said Moira is on target for the July 24 Woodbine Oaks after prevailing in her June 11 season opener in the seven-furlong Fury Stakes. After racing at the rear of the field under Hernandez, she mounted a four-wide rally on the turn, made the lead early in the stretch, and then held on to score by a head with a 74 Beyer.
Moira finished first and second in two 1 1/16-mile stakes in her two-race juvenile campaign. Attard said she could run back in the Grade 3 Selene at that distance here July 2.
“It was important getting a race into her,” Attard said. “I didn’t want to run her seven-eighths, but we had no choice. She came out of the race in good shape. We’ll see if we head to the Selene or just wait for the Oaks. I wanted a big [gallop-out], just in case I don’t want to run her back. I thought Raffie did a good job with that aspect. She had a big, strong gallop-out and should have gotten a lot out of that.”
◗ Post time for the eight-race Thursday card is 5:05 p.m.