Long on talent, Southern Ring goes long on turf
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The once-beaten stakes winner Southern Ring moves out to a mile in the featured second-level optional claimer Friday, the second day of turf racing at the Woodbine meet.
Southern Ring, a Sam-Son Farm 4-year-old trained by Malcolm Pierce, earned a big 95 Beyer Speed Figure in finishing second to the eventual stakes winner Elusive Collection when debuting last August on the Polytrack. She subsequently romped in a maiden special weight turf sprint and has been idle since taking the 6 1/2-furlong Ruling Angel Stakes on the Polytrack in October.
Southern Ring is bred to be a miler. The daughter of Speightstown is out of Bison City Stakes winner Seeking the Ring and hails from the family of graded stakes winners Catch the Ring and Radiant Ring.
Leading rider Eurico Da Silva will be aboard Southern Ring.
Ten other fillies and mares were entered in the headliner, which is the eighth of nine races.
KEY CONTENDERS
Southern Ring, by Speightstown
Last 3 Beyers: 87-84-95
◗ Trainer Pierce possesses a 24 percent strike rate with six-month-plus layoff runners in turf routes over the past five years, with a return on investment of $2.18.
◗ Pierce and Da Silva have combined to win at a 26 percent clip since the beginning of 2015.
Spring Spirit, by Sprint At Last
Last 3 Beyers: 46-82-83
◗ She scored twice on the grass at Gulfstream in January before ending up third there in a minor stakes Feb. 15. She returned to the local scene at this level May 6 and stalked the pace on the outside before fading over a Tapeta surface that aided inside and speed horses.
Hantaloop, by Giant’s Causeway
Last 3 Beyers: 82-69-65
◗ The lightly raced 5-year-old could be poised for a peak race in her third start after a winter vacation. In her last start, she wound up sixth in a second-level allowance at Keeneland, from which the 10th-place horse exited to capture an allowance at Indiana Grand.
Bear’s Pride, by Kentucky Bear
Last 3 Beyers: 65-63-82
◗ Her 15 minutes of fame came when she posted a 9-1 upset in the restricted Victoriana Stakes in August. She has been idle since defeating $32,000 claimers on the Polytrack on Nov. 21.
My Bid, by Smooth Bid
Last 3 Beyers: 78-74-78
◗ She has maintained decent form on synthetics since winning on turf against non-winners-of-three opposition in October.
Obeah Woman, by Mobil
Last 3 Beyers: 66-66-78
◗ She has worked well on the Tapeta in preparation for her first turf race and is bred for the task at hand.