'Like Mom' in tough vs. older

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Like Mom Like Sons, one of the fastest 2-year-olds at Woodbine last year, will take on older horses in Saturday's Woodbine feature, a $62,500 optional claimer over 6 1/2 furlongs.

Like Mom Like Sons made quite a splash when he debuted in a six-furlong maiden special in October. After fighting for the early lead on the outside, he drew away for a 7 3/4-length triumph and earned a Beyer Figure of 85.

In his only subsequent outing, in a six-furlong allowance Nov. 1, Like Mom Like Sons led all the way to prevail by nearly three lengths, receiving an 86 Beyer.

Trainer Sid Attard said he entered Like Mom Like Sons in the allowance prep for the April 21 Woodstock Stakes and another five-furlong dash, both of which failed to fill. Saturday's race isn't an ideal spot, but Attard said he had no other options for the promising colt.

"If we're going to run him in the [Woodstock], I'd like to get a race into him," Attard said. "I hate to work him too much. I think he's a really nice horse."

Attard said Like Mom Like Sons trained in Florida over the winter, and was shipped back to his barn during the first week of March.

Patrick Husbands will ride Like Mom Like Sons, a Kentucky-bred owned by Norseman Racing Stable.

Among the others entered in Saturday's sixth race are Bold Thing, Demi Song, Roux Be Wild, and Carrington.

Bold Thing appeared to find his calling last year as a turf sprinter, but he won a first-level allowance in October that was taken off the grass and contested on Polytrack. He spent the winter at Tampa Bay Downs, where he was recently second behind stakes winner Roman Candles in a 6 1/2-furlong classified allowance.

Demi Song has the distinction of winning the first race run over the local Polytrack, a $40,000 claimer on Aug. 30. He subsequently doubled up in a first-level allowance, before coming up empty in a pair of $62,500 optional claimers.

The Scott Fairlie-trained entry of Roux Be Wild and Carrington both scored at Philadelphia Park over the winter.

Roux Be Wild, a bargain $10,000 claim in November, closed to win first- and a second-level allowances in two of his three winter outings. His last two Beyer Figures, both 85, were career highs for him.

Carrington was awarded an

85 Beyer when he captured a $35,000 optional claimer in January. Favalora exited that race to win a quick $12,500 starter handicap.