Kimura looking to pad lead in Woodbine jockey standings
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Woodbine’s leading rider, Kazushi Kimura, has already had a very busy week, having had mounts Monday through Wednesday at Presque Isle Downs, where he swept the early double Tuesday.
Kimura is scheduled to ride a full slate of runners on Friday’s eight-race Woodbine card, including mounts in both 6 1/2-furlong nonwinners-of-three hybrid sprints combining Ontario-sired allowance types with $40,000 claimers.
In the seventh race, for fillies and mares, Kimura will pilot Breathing Fire for trainer Sid Attard. The 3-year-old swept her last two starts at 2, including a nonwinners-of-two allowance. In her April 23 season opener, she wound up just behind Gizmo’s B F F in fourth and is meeting that 4-year-old again here. Both had a wide trip over an inside-biased track that day, and Gizmo’s B F F should be especially dangerous in her second start off a nine-month layoff.
Kimura will ride All Canadian in the co-featured fourth race for trainer Gail Cox. The 4-year-old was stakes-placed twice at 2 and captured a nonwinners-of-two allowance early in his 3-year-old season before tailing off. All Canadian wintered in Florida and was a stalking second in his first start this year going six furlongs, from which victorious Last American Exit returned to run second in a first-level allowance.
In a field without much speed, All Canadian could set the pace or track Bossy Holiday, who might be inclined to go for the lead from his rail draw. Bossy Holiday won 2 of 6 juvenile races last year, including a first-level allowance the last time he saw action Dec. 5.
Red River Rebel should be favored in the fourth race off his troubled fifth-place finish behind Pink Lloyd in the Grade 2 Kennedy Road last November. Victorious in the restricted Lake Erie Stakes on the dirt at Fort Erie in September, Red River Rebel has been working right along for trainer Kevin Attard, who has good numbers with 61- to 180-day layoff runners.
Kid Forester, Nashtrick, Candy Overload, and Priceless Will are the other contenders in the fourth race, which kicks off the lone pick four on the card.
In the first race, Kimura rides Twice as Smart, who is returning from a long break and might need one to help shake off the rust.
Kimura has a big shot on the consistent comebacker Final Strike in the second race. Final Strike completed his 2021 campaign in decent form and was an easy winner of his first outing last year following a sabbatical.
Kimura rides two for leading trainer Mark Casse, including Moment of Peace in the nightcap. Moment of Peace is dropping from maiden-special company to compete for $25,000 in his second start on Tapeta.
Post time is 4:50 p.m.