Messier makes Woodbine debut in competitive sprint

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The gifted Ontario-bred Messier makes his first start for trainer Kevin Attard off a layoff in Thursday’s terrific Woodbine feature, a 6 1/2-furlong conditioned allowance with a $50,000 claiming option.

Messier was the early 2022 Kentucky Derby favorite after winning the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis by 15 lengths with a 103 Beyer Speed Figure at Santa Anita. He went on to finish second in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby and 15th at Churchill Downs before heading to the sidelines.

Messier started twice last winter at Santa Anita and has been idle since ending up fourth in the Grade 2 San Pasqual on Jan. 28. Attard said the son of 13 percent synthetic sprint sire Empire Maker was sent to him here in the spring.

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“He was going really good and then he had a little bit of a setback,” Attard recalled. “We had to give him a couple months off in the summertime. We brought him back and he’s been doing great. He’s a cool horse to be around. He’s very professional. He’s done everything that we’ve asked him to do.”

Messier worked a half-mile in a bullet 46.20 on Nov. 19 with Moon Landing, who subsequently won an allowance. A week later, he went a half-mile in 50.20.

“He’s been breezing really well,” Attard said. “We set him down in a work a couple weeks ago and I thought it was a good move. He came back with a nice, easy work. We’re starting him off at six and a half. It might not be his ideal distance, but we’re running out of options because of the time of year. I think he’s just ready to do a little bit more.”

Messier has a history of bleeding and is adding Lasix on Thursday with Kazushi Kimura getting the call.

Trainer Mark Casse sends out unbeaten True Temper and the improving City Mischief.

True Temper came from fourth to land his debut over future stakes winner Kaukokaipuu in an April 29 maiden special going six furlongs. He never saw action again until Oct. 22, when he made all the running in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance while holding off City Fever, who returned to win an allowance at Laurel. Rafael Hernandez retains the mount on the Ontario-bred 3-year-old.

City Mischief cleared the first allowance condition with a career-best 88 Beyer in his second race off the bench going 6 1/2 furlongs here Nov. 12. The stretch-running 5-year-old drew the outside post 10 with Sahin Civaci aboard.

One Bay Hemmingway was on this year’s King’s Plate trail before going back to sprinting when second to Patches O’Houlihan in the July 30 Lake Superior Stakes. He subsequently won an allowance and finished first in the Sept. 12 Lake Erie Stakes on the dirt at Fort Erie, in which he was disqualified from purse money for carrying the incorrect weight.

Completing the sixth-race field are Red River Rebel, Kinetic Stone, Hunt Master, Jazz Hands, Journeyman, and Souper Watson.

Post time for the eight-race card is 4:40 p.m.

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