Midnight Aria starts season in salty sprint

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Midnight Aria, the 2013 Queen’s Plate winner, returns from a five-month layoff Friday in the featured seventh race at Woodbine, a third-level optional claimer at seven furlongs.

Midnight Aria had been idle for 13 months when he finished up the track in a starter allowance last August. He subsequently won at the second allowance condition before ending up third in the Grade 2 Autumn Stakes.

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Midnight Aria was beaten by double-digit lengths in each of his last two outings, which came in the Grade 2 Hawthorne Gold Cup on dirt and the Grade 2 W.L. McKnight Handicap on grass at Gulfstream.

Friday’s excellent nine-race program also has the first turf event of the meet, a second-level optional claimer headed by Big Bazinga and Florida Won. The 4 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race that kicks off the card is the first 2-year-old race of the meet.

KEY CONTENDERS

Midnight Aria (Last 3 Beyers: 43-28-93)

◗ He has worked to the satisfaction of trainer Nick Gonzalez, but he is a need-the-lead type and is untested over seven furlongs. He might have a hard time getting to the front because of the other speed in this 10-horse field.

Bear No Joke (Last 3 Beyers: 84-90-83)

◗ He is winless in his last seven outings, predominantly in stakes, but he chased home last year’s Canadian champion sprinter, Calgary Cat, while placing in several of those engagements.

◗ He is being reunited with Emma-Jayne Wilson, who was aboard for his victory in the Grade 2 Kennedy Road Stakes in 2013.

Pablo Del Monte (Last 3 Beyers: 84-78-89)

◗ The onetime Grade 1 stakes performer has been campaigned sporadically by trainer Wesley Ward, who won four races here during opening weekend.

◗ He stalked a rapid pace before fading to fifth here April 26 in the six-furlong Jacques Cartier Stakes. Expect him to set the pace.

Urban Forester (Last 3 Beyers: 91-78-86)

◗ The flashy chestnut has been sidelined since running second to Pender Harbour in the June 8 Steady Growth Stakes. He has worked extensively for second-leading trainer Norm McKnight and can fire while fresh.

Constantino (Last 3 Beyers: 74-83-55)

◗ He rallied wide off slow fractions to capture his return from a five-month layoff in a lesser optional claimer April 25 for leading trainer Mark Casse.

Jose Sea View (Last 3 Beyers: 79-75-85)

◗ After narrowly losing the Sovereign Award for Canadian champion 2-year-old male in 2013, he went winless in seven starts last year.

◗ He never reached contention after getting bumped at the break when he came off the shelf in the Jacques Cartier.