Maakwa the one to catch in Tapeta sprint

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Maakwa is still in quest of his first win of the meet, and he could get it if the Tapeta is kind to his speed style in Friday’s seventh race at Woodbine. The six-furlong sprint for nonwinners of three combines Ontario-sired allowance types with $40,000 claimers.

Trained by Shana Lopez, Maakwa lost a nail-biter in his April 24 season opener going six furlongs. About three weeks later, he could only manage fourth as the favorite in a five-furlong dash won by the classy stakes winner Rockcrest, who outsprinted him for the early lead.

Maakwa salvaged third as the favorite in a 6 1/2-furlong event on July 2, but he was beaten a pole in a subsequent turf experiment. The fleet of foot 4-year-old was a front-running third in another 6 1/2-furlong sprint on Aug. 12, which was won by the upwardly mobile Grandson.

Maakwa stepped up out of nonwinners-of-three company most recently to contest a first-level allowance with a $32,000 claiming option. He set a quick pace in that seven-furlong event before weakening late to third and received his second straight 83 Beyer Speed Figure.

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Journeyman Gary Boulanger will ride Maakwa again for Old Oregon Trail Stables. His 112 Timeform US early pace rating sticks out like a sore thumb in the nine-horse field, and he may finally have found a field that he can wire.

Marty Drexler, third in the Woodbine trainer standings with 41 wins, sends out The Great Oz and Priceless Will.

The Great Oz has stuck to the turf since early January at Gulfstream. Drexler claimed the 4-year-old there for $20,000 in March and saddled him in back-to-back second-place finishers here on the main turf in mid-summer.

After missing the break most recently going 7 1/2 furlongs on the inner turf, The Great Oz came wide from far off fast fractions to beat nonwinners-of-two opposition with an 81 Beyer.

Longshot Priceless Will recently changed barns off a close second for $25,000, and Drexler has a 21 percent strike rate with new acquisitions.

The consistent Souper Classy enjoys both local surfaces and should be a factor under leading rider Kazushi Kimura. He came inside from a stalking position to finish a half-length back in second last time out in a five-furlong inner-turf dash.

The speedy router Mad Dog N Joe is coming off a victory in a $25,000 conditioned claimer on the inner turf. He figures to be relegated into an early stalking position in his first sprint start since the spring and may have lost his passing gear.

Four Aces High finished just a neck behind Souper Classy in third after setting the pace in a five-furlong inner-turf sprint two weeks ago.

Beginning this week, post time for Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at Woodbine is 1:20 p.m.

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