Last race points out Catsimile

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Catsimile nearly won his turf debut when up against Ontario-sired 3-year-olds in the Bold Ruckus Stakes. He will meet older Ontario-sired allowance opponents while stretching out to a mile on the grass in Friday's Woodbine feature.

Catsimile made two starts as a 2-year-old, both on the dirt. He graduated in his five-furlong debut, then wound up fifth behind eventual divisional champion Leonnatus Anteas in the Vandal Stakes.

Catsimile led throughout his 2007 season opener, a five-furlong allowance on the Polytrack April 13. He then faded to fifth after setting the fractions in the seven-furlong Queenston Stakes May 5.

Last time out in the six-furlong Bold Ruckus, Catsimile stalked a moderate pace before hitting the front at the eighth pole. He went on to finish a lapped-on second to favored Legal Move, who returned to win the Achievement Stakes.

"I was quite happy with his turf race," said trainer Malcolm Pierce. "He's aggressive - he wants to go fast early, and I guess the mile is a question mark for him. I would guess that he'll be the speed of the race."

Pierce thinks Catsimile prefers dirt and turf over Woodbine's Polytrack.

"He doesn't seem to like the Polytrack too much just yet," Pierce said. "I think he won that [April 13] race on sheer fitness. I had him in New Orleans with me all winter, and he worked a bunch of five-eighths before coming up here. He was training up a storm at the Fair Grounds."

Todd Kabel will ride Catsimile, who is owned by Pierce and Windways Farm.

Other win possibilities in the feature include My Imperial Dancer, One Short, Rye on the Rocks, and Furthermore.

My Imperial Dancer has won 2 of 5 turf starts, including a 1 1/16-mile allowance in June 2006 for which he got an 88 Beyer Speed Figure. He was a front-running fourth in his penultimate outing, in a $62,500 optional claimer, and was seventh but not badly beaten most recently in the Grade 3 Highlander Stakes.

One Short graduated second time out while moving to the turf on July 1, earning an 80 Beyer in that restricted maiden dash.

Rye on the Rocks hung in deep stretch after looking like a winner in each of his last two starts, both going long on the Poly. Both of his victories were on the Woodbine turf.

Furthermore, a lightly raced 8-year-old, got his second win when he scored at 35-1 in a recent allowance route restricted to Ontario-sired runners.