Mrs. Green should get right setup in field without much speed

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Mark Casse sends out two contenders in Thursday’s Woodbine feature, Mrs. Green and Ambassador Luna, who are drawn at opposite ends of the gate in the conditioned allowance that has a $50,000 claiming option.

Mrs. Green breaks from the rail under Patrick Husbands in her second Tapeta start. The 4-year-old has been campaigned as a turf specialist and was victorious in a lucrative first-level allowance last fall at Aqueduct.

In her local debut Aug. 12, Mrs. Green was softened up in a speed duel when fourth in a seven-furlong event. When shortening up to six furlongs in another main-turf sprint at this level Sept. 30, the daughter of Midnight Storm came from eight lengths back to end up second.

Mrs. Green earned a career-high equaling 87 Beyer Speed Figure most recently when a stalking second to front-runner Owen’s Tour Guide over a speed-favoring Tapeta.

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In a field without an abundance of speed on Thursday, Mrs. Green should be on or near a moderate pace as she moves back out from six to seven furlongs.

Ambassador Luna starts from post 8 with Sahin Civaci aboard. The Florida-bred captured the 2020 Unbridled Sidney Stakes at Churchill Downs as a 4-year-old after it was switched from the grass to the dirt.

Ambassador Luna is winless in her last 12 outings, but she was against the elements in her last two starts at this level on the Tapeta. She mounted a mild wide bid to finish fourth over a track that favored both inside and speed horses on Sept. 9. The aforementioned speed bias on Oct. 21 worked against her when third behind Mrs. Green after a three-wide trip.

Jokes Up could be the up-and-comer in the lineup. She overcame the bias on Oct. 21 when closing outside from off a fast pace to win a hybrid sprint for nonwinners-of-two allowance types and $50,000 claiming 3-year-olds with a modest 73 Beyer.

Jokes Up was scooped up for $40,000 two starts ago by trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., who has a 25-percent strike rate second time off a claim during the past five years, with a return on investment of $1.51. Leading rider Kazushi Kimura retains the mount on the 3-year-old daughter of Practical Joke.

Zana lost a heartbreaker in the Aug. 17 Algoma Stakes, a slowly run seven-furlong event for graduates of Canadian sales. She subsequently finished fourth in the restricted Zadracarta Stakes and was victorious in a five-furlong inner turf allowance most recently. Expect her to be forwardly placed under Justin Stein.

Glorianna has run hot and cold in her last two races at this level. She finished sixth after a wide trip against the speed bias on Oct. 21. Pioneer’s Edge saved ground on the turn before rallying outside for fifth in the same Oct. 21 contest.

Breathing Fire dueled for the lead throughout before coming up a head short of Fashionably Fab in the Oct. 22 Eternal Search Stakes, a 7 1/2-furlong inner turf tilt for Ontario-sired females.

Post time for the eight-race card is 4:40 p.m. Eastern.

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