Keep Your Head Up favored in repeat attempt

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Keep Your Head Up will attempt to win a first-level optional claimer for the second time in a row Friday at Woodbine, and she should be favored in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-old fillies.

Keep Your Head Up won her lone 2-year-old outing from just off the pace in early September. All three of her races this year were at this level, including a front-running second going 5 1/2 furlongs in her April 22 comeback.

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Keep Your Head Up finished a flat fourth after a three-wide stalking trip when she stretched out to seven furlongs May 6. She competed for the $75,000 tag for the first time going six furlongs May 27, and she got the job done after closing three wide from off quick fractions.

Keep Your Head Up is protected without the tag on Friday. She’ll be ridden by regular rider Alan Garcia, who’s 3 for 8 at the meet for trainer Donnie MacRae, who has won at a 20 percent rate at this meet.

KEY CONTENDERS

Keep Your Head Up, by In Summation

Last 3 Beyers: 74-72-71

◗ She has a Beyer Speed Figure advantage on most of her rivals and has drawn ideally on the outside in a six-horse field, where her tactical speed should come in handy. Perhaps her main obstacle will be the distance.

Subzero Plus, by Court Vision

Last 3 Beyers: 70-49-43

◗ Erratic at 2, her 2017 opener was arguably her best performance. She rallied wide for second behind Keep Your Head Up in her first start with Lasix.

◗ A hot Rafael Hernandez retains the mount, and he is 6 for 13 at the meet for Roger Attfield, who trains Subzero Plus.

Boathouse View, by Divine Park

Last 3 Beyers: 70-74-58

◗ She defeated Keep Your Head Up when second May 6 but had to settle for third behind that one and Subzero Plus on the turnback May 27. The slight stretch-out may be to her benefit, and her trainer, Mike Mattine, has been heating up after a slow start to the meet.

The Craic, by Sidney’s Candy

Last 3 Beyers: 63-67-62

◗ She’s been freshened since a fading third-place finish in her first start of the year April 22. She’s getting a rider switch to Luis Contreras, who was aboard for one of her better juvenile efforts, a second for $40,000.

Forty’s Sweetheart, by Forty Grams

Last 3 Beyers: 59-65-58

◗ She’s been working bullets for her first appearance since Dec. 2, when she came up empty at this level. She beat The Craic in November, when she was claimed for $40,000.