ETOBICOKE, Ontario – It’s rare to see a 10-year-old running competitively at an intermediate level at Woodbine. Lapochka fits the bill in Friday’s fifth race, a $25,000 claimer scheduled for 7 1/2 furlongs on the inner turf. Lapochka made 28 of his last 29 starts for trainer Vito Armata, who claimed him for $19,000 for Eight Star Racing Stables in the fall of 2020. The gelding won back-to-back inner turf events in July 2021 and also took a main turf route in September of that year. Last year, Lapochka won 3 of 13 outings on turf and the Tapeta while earning $82,558, not bad for a 9-year-old. The stretch-runner is winless in four starts this year, but he was along for second two back on the inner turf before ending up fifth most recently in another $25,000 claimer, which was on the more speed-friendly main course. Armata has a great deal of admiration for Lapochka, a son of the late English Channel who’s been a productive sire of late-developing grass runners. :: DRF's 2023 Saratoga headquarters: Previews, past performances, picks, recaps, news, and more. “I love him,” Armata said. “He’s 10 years old and look at the way he’s running. With a little bit of luck last time, he should have been one-two, but unfortunately, we didn’t get that. My brother and I were watching him train the other day, and he still loves to do it. He’s special.” Patrick Husbands will break Lapochka from the rail in an eight-horse field. The journeyman was aboard for his last two victories and also rode him twice in the summer of 2017. Steak and Cheese starts from the outside post under Rafael Hernandez and could go off favored. He had a three-wide stalking trip before flattening out to third behind Green Fleet and Lapochka when returning from a break June 11. Steak and Cheese beat nonwinners-of-two Ontario-sired and $40,000 claimers on the inner turf last July and could be regarded as a horse for course. His new trainer, Bill Tharrenos, posted a 14 percent strike rate off a claim over the past five years, with a return on investment of 82 cents. Hallie’s Hero was claimed by Steak and Cheese’s previous trainer, Marty Drexler, for $15,000 on June 16, when the 8-year-old won a starter/optional-claiming sprint after a perfect inside trip on the main course. Drexler also sends out Spirit Animal, who had a wide trip last out while closing from off slow fractions for second in a $25,000 sprint won by Ron’s Gizmo, who subsequently ran second in a first-level allowance. He defeated $16,000 claimers in his penultimate race at Gulfstream. Malibu Uproar was freshened after ending up eighth in a key $20,000 conditioned claimer March 26 at Gulfstream. Trained by Kevin Attard, he also possesses some positive form on the local inner turf. Rounding out the fifth-race field are Anselmo, Mad Dog N Joe, and Spider Belle. The new post time for Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays is 1:05 p.m. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.