Moon Rainbow back on Polytrack in Friday feature
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – After running big in two starts on grass, the talented Moon Rainbow goes back to the Polytrack in Friday’s featured second-level optional claimer at Woodbine.
Moon Rainbow earned her diploma first time out in a seven-furlong maiden special weight race on the Polytrack here June 21. Three weeks later, she faded to fourth after attending a fast pace in the $250,000 Bison City Stakes, which was at the 1 1/16-mile distance of Friday’s feature.
Moon Rainbow won her turf debut in an allowance route here Aug. 29. She hasn’t started since finishing second here as the favorite Oct. 12 in the nine-furlong Carotene, a turf stakes for Ontario-bred 3-year-old fillies.
Moon Rainbow was 2-1 on the morning line when she was a vet scratch from a second-level optional claimer Oct. 31.
“She was scratched because she had mucus,” said Malcolm Pierce, who trains Moon Rainbow for owner and breeder Sam-Son Farm.
Eurico Da Silva retains the mount on Moon Rainbow, who breezed a half-mile in 48 seconds on the Polytrack last Friday.
Six other fillies and mares were entered in the feature, the eighth on a solid nine-race card.
KEY CONTENDERS
Moon Rainbow (Last 3 Beyers: 82-87-77)
◗ She is bred to be a good one. The daughter of Smart Strike is a full sister to stakes winner Smartyfly. Her 2-year-old half-brother, Butterfly Dance, finished second in the Cup and Saucer Stakes before disappointing in last Sunday’s Coronation Futurity.
Hantaloop (Last 3 Beyers: 72-84-76)
◗ The large daughter of Giant’s Causeway showed promise last year at 3 when she graduated second time out and won a first-level allowance route.
◗ She has been idle for 15 months, but her hot trainer, Roger Attfield, has a 20 percent strike rate with six-month-plus comebackers since the beginning of 2014.
Obeah Woman (Last 3 Beyers: 66-78-77)
◗ She just missed after saving ground two starts back in the Classy ‘N Smart Stakes. It was won by the charging shipper Flipcup, who came right back to take the Grade 3 Maple Leaf Stakes here.
◗ It was shocking to see her come up empty after racing wide most recently in an optional claimer, and she probably deserves a mulligan.
Lynnessa (Last 3 Beyers: 73-82-76)
◗ She had a terrible trip before closing for fourth Aug. 1 in the Victoriana Stakes on the grass. The productive 6-year-old has been sidelined since running fourth Sept. 27 in the Classy ‘N Smart, an Ontario-sired stakes.
Chedington (Last 3 Beyers: 72-78-77)
◗ Since her victory over $40,000 opposition in August, she has been competitive at this level on turf and Polytrack under regular rider Sheena Ryan. She rides on Friday.