Mr. Perpetuity looks to be on the lead

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Mr. Perpetuity, who was scratched from last Saturday's allowance prep for the Valedictory Handicap, reappears in a more realistic spot in Wednesday's seventh race, a $40,000 claimer going 1 1/16 miles.

Mr. Perpetuity, a 10-time winner from 42 starts, is at the tail end of a lucrative year during which he has won 4 of 9 outings for earnings of $141,987.

After shipping in from Aqueduct in the spring, Mr. Perpetuity was victorious here in four straight 1 1/16-mile races, using his aggressive speed style. His streak began with a decisive score in a $16,000 claimer and ended when he won a $62,500 contest by disqualification July 2. During that fruitful run, he received Beyer Speed Figures ranging from 87 to 95.

Mr. Perpetuity's streak ended on July 16, when he was a close second in a tough $80,000 optional claimer, which was won by the classy Parose. He subsequently finished fifth and fourth in a pair of $62,500 events before trainer Scott Fairlie gave him a freshening.

Mr. Perpetuity was a well-beaten third after tracking the pace when he returned to action on Nov. 7, in a 1 1/4-mile race for $62,500 stock. He will cut back to his preferred distance on Wednesday, and should dominate the pace proceedings in a field with little other speed.

Mr. Perpetuity is coupled with Silver Axe, the two of them 7-year-old geldings. Silver Axe has won 3 of 11 starts this year, including a pair of $32,000 claimers at 1 1/16 miles.

Most recently, Silver Axe made a ground-saving rally to finish third against $40,000 opposition. Dino Luciani, who has 10 wins from 32 mounts aboard Fairlie-trained runners at the meeting, has the call.

Among the others entered in Wednesday's headliner are Peef and Hard Edge.

Peef, an inconsistent son of Langfuhr, is taking a sharp drop off a lackluster effort for $62,500. He was previously a fast-closing second in an $80,000 optional claimer, which came on the heels of a poor performance in the slop.

Trainer Malcolm Pierce will give jockey Jim McAleney a leg up on Peef, who was third in the restricted Elgin Stakes in early September.

Hard Edge, who is coming off a fifth-place finish behind Silver Axe in a competitive $40,000 claimer, would appear to be over the top of his best form. He won two main-track races, both taken off the grass, in the summer.

Gerry Olguin retains the mount on Hard Edge for leading trainer Sid Attard.