Money Talker will run for a tag in Friday turf route
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Money Talker is dropping into an inviting spot Friday at Woodbine in the featured second-level optional claimer, in which the graded stakes-placed runner will compete with a $62,500 tag at 1 3/8 miles on the grass.
Money Talker, trained by Sid Attard for Stronach Stables, won 2 of 8 starts in 2014, with the highlight of his campaign a close third behind Karibu Gardens and Reporting Star in the Grade 2 Sky Classic Stakes.
Money Talker has started four times this year. Following a four-month absence, he was a commendable fourth on Feb. 21 behind 2014 Eclipse champion turf male and older male Main Sequence and Twilight Eclipse in the Grade 2 Mac Diarmida at Gulfstream, where he also finished fifth in the Grade 2 Pan American on March 28.
After a freshening, Money Talker finished second to Patrioticandproud in a 1 1/4-mile optional claimer here June 13 that was switched from turf to the Polytrack, over which he’s winless. He faded to fourth after pressing slow fractions most recently in the Grade 3 Singspiel.
Seven others were entered in the eighth race, which will be run in lane 2 on a course that should be firm.
KEY CONTENDERS
Money Talker (Last 3 Beyers: 84-85-85)
◗ Jesse Campbell, who was aboard for each of his 2014 triumphs, will ride the son of popular Ontario sire Silent Name, who stands at Stronach’s Adena Springs North in Ontario.
Smooth Stone (Last 3 Beyers: 85-84-64)
◗ The Sam-Son Farm homebred was victorious in first- and second-level allowance company among just five starts in 2014, which included a triumph over this course.
◗ He is winless in five outings this year but was simply in too deep July 1 when a distant fifth in the Grade 3 Dominion Day Stakes last out.
Crushin Hard (Last 3 Beyers: 83-73-69)
◗ He has improved with each subsequent appearance since an unproductive campaign at Gulfstream and won a recent first-level allowance in a blanket finish at 51-1. Simon Husbands retains the mount and appears to have his hole card.
Any Given Royal (Last 3 Beyers: 78-86-73)
◗ He was arguably best when second after finding traffic in the stretch of a one-mile optional claimer May 22 but was a flat fourth most recently when favored going about 1 1/8 miles. Eleven furlongs might be farther than he wants to go.
Bank Float (Last 3 Beyers: 78-73-66)
◗ The lightly raced shipper from Fair Hill is seeking his third consecutive score after graduating for $25,000 at Pimlico and then capturing the first allowance condition at Delaware.