Jockeys jostle atop standings in card filled with claimers
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Apprentice Pietro Moran had a clear lead in the Woodbine jockey standings heading into this week. Sahin Civaci’s three-win day last Sunday vaulted him over Rafael Hernandez into second, and he trails Moran by a 36-29 margin. All three will be in action on Friday’s eight-race all-claiming card.
Last year’s leading rider and Sovereign Award winner for outstanding jockey, Civaci has just one mount, on the favored I’m Into Mischief in the seventh. Trained by Marty Drexler, the daughter of perennial leading sire Into Mischief is dropping from $32,000 to $25,000 claiming company and figures to rebound off a subpar showing.
Souper Sunday and Forest B drop from conditioned $50,000 claiming company in the six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares. Souper Sunday finished second to a next-out winner in her penultimate race for $25,000 in December.
Moran has two mounts for trainer Tino Attard, the debuting Drogon in the second and Diva’s Ghost in the third. Drogon, by the 14 percent first-out sire Reload, has posted some quick works and seems well-spotted against $15,000 claiming maidens. Diva’s Ghost, sidelined since finishing a wide fifth over an inside-biased track on Dec. 15, was gelded during the offseason and has worked regularly since mid-May.
Moran could sit a lovely trip behind the speed in the opener on Sloans Sky, who ran third in another $7,500 claiming race in her first start outside the maiden ranks June 5. The speedy Fanny M is dropping off a fading fifth in a slow-placed $15,000 claiming race and could be viewed as a vulnerable favorite.
Moran gets his first ride for trainer Dale Desruisseaux on Harper City in the fourth. Off a front-running fourth in his season opener, the son of Temple City is in with a shot in the seemingly wide-open $7,500 claiming race.
Hernandez rides contender Wet and Wild in the sixth and Mister Holden in the gelding’s turf debut in the eighth.
Wet and Wild fared poorly on the dirt during the winter at Oaklawn Park before beating $7,500 conditioned opposition on the Tapeta here May 11. He tried the open $7,500 level of Friday’s engagement on May 30 and wound up second after another stalking trip.
After breaking from the rail in the five-furlong dash, Wet and Wild might try to put some early pressure on need-the-lead type Bold Reload, who’s dropping off a cliff from $25,000. Moran rides longshot Blame J D for Wet and Wild’s trainer, Norm McKnight.
Mister Holden was protected by waiver when a leading fourth in his seasonal bow in another $15,000 event following a winter layoff on May 30. By the 16 percent turf route sire Signature Red, the 4-year-old is out of a mare who has failed to produce a winner from four turf starters.
Mister Holden could vie for the lead with longshot Profesorridesagain. The latter is picking up jockey Xarel Forde, who won three races on last Friday’s card.
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