Money Talks faces older foes in Friday sprint feature

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Money Talks will meet older opposition in Friday’s eighth race at Woodbine, but the 3-year-old gelding might be up to the task. Six others were entered in the seven-furlong event, which combines Ontario-sired non-winners of three allowance types with $40,000 non-winners of three claimers.

Money Talks raced six times at 2, including a second-out maiden victory going seven furlongs in August. After missing the board in both the restricted Bull Page and Frost King stakes, he checked in third after a troubled trip in a Nov. 15 allowance route.

Money Talks raced four wide early after breaking slowly in a Dec. 7 allowance in which he hit the front on the backstretch before opening up a clear lead on the far turn. He lugged in toward the rail through the lane but got home on top by 3 1/2 lengths while putting up a 71 Beyer Speed Figure.

After wintering at Palm Beach Downs, Money Talks was poised to make his season debut here April 13 but was a vet scratch that day because he was coughing, according to trainer Bill Tharrenos. David Moran will ride him Friday.

Man Cave, like Money Talks, is nominated to the $1 million Queen’s Plate here July 6. He’s also returning from a 4 1/2-month layoff.

Man Cave graduated at second asking going a mile and 70 yards in a maiden special weight race Oct. 11, then doubled up in an Ontario-sired allowance at the same distance. A four-wide trip over an inside-biased track led to his downfall in the open Display Stakes on Dec. 8, when a slow pace also worked against him.

Patrick Husbands will get a leg up on Man Cave from trainer Ashlee Brnjas.

Dupes, Save My Soul, and Danaher are all competing with a $40,000 tag.

Dupes received a 74 Beyer when a distant fourth while coming off the sidelines in a rapidly run $25,000 starter allowance April 12. He figures to make his presence known against this less-accomplished group, with Eurico Rosa Da Silva retaining the mount.

Save My Soul crushed $20,000 claimers in front-running style while traveling 1 1/16 miles the first time off an $8,000 claim by owner and trainer Nick DeToro on Dec. 13.

Danaher is adding blinkers off a poor performance at this level in his April 13 season opener.

◗ Jockey Jesse Campbell has been handed a three-day suspension by the stewards for Friday through Sunday as a result of his disqualification from third to fourth on Hesa Big Dude in the third race last Saturday.