Molly's Wisdom should be much the best

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Molly's Wisdom towers over his seven rivals in Sunday's $133,500 Bull Page Stakes at Woodbine, and he should be odds-on in the race, a six-furlong dash for male Ontario-sired 2-year-olds.

Molly's Wisdom was the first winner for freshman sire Whiskey Wisdom, a Grade 3 winner whose only loss in six starts came in the 1997 Breeders' Cup Classic. Molly's Wisdom prevailed by a length in 59 seconds when he debuted in a five-furlong maiden special June 9, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 72.

Molly's Wisdom ran back against Canadian-breds three weeks later in the 5 1/2-furlong Clarendon Stakes, and finished second to Shaws Creek after a four-wide stalking trip. The effort earned him an excellent Beyer of 83.

Trainer Vito Armata believes Molly's Wisdom might have won the Clarendon if he had switched leads in the stretch.

"Things didn't go right for him last time," Armata said. "I thought he might have caught [Shaws Creek] if he had switched leads at the head of the lane. He still ran a big race."

Armata said owner-breeder Gino Molinaro predicted that Molly's Wisdom had lots of potential, even before he came to the track.

"From day one, Mr. Molinaro said that he's a good horse," Armata recalled. "He's a big, gorgeous colt, and he's great to work around. He's a natural."

Armata was elated with Molly's Wisdom's work last Wednesday, when he breezed three-eighths in a bullet 34.60 seconds.

"It was an awesome blowout," Armata said. "They're going to have to run to beat him."

From the rail out, the Bull Page field: Arcola Creek with Shane Ellis up; Mighty Quinn, Ray Sabourin; Young Whiz, Gary Boulanger; Luger, Patrick Husbands; All Star Lover, Mickey Walls; Lazer Speed, Steven Bahen; Molly's Wisdom, Emile Ramsammy; and Stormy Lover, David Clark.

Mighty Quinn won his lone start in a maiden special, covering five furlongs in 1:01.20. Trainer Malcolm Pierce feels Mighty Quinn's effort is better than it appears on paper.

"You wouldn't have been impressed with the time of the race," Pierce said, "but the times were slow that day, and I like the way he did it. He got left at the gate, made a big middle move, and was game at the end."

Stormy Lover was third in an $80,000 claiming race in his only start. "He'll benefit a lot from that race," said trainer Kevin Attard. "He's a big, heavy colt, and we couldn't get much out of him when we worked him."