Much Rejoicing returns on Polytrack

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The last two Woodbine Mile winners, Court Vision and Ventura, both prevailed after a summer break that was spent at Saratoga. Much Rejoicing fits that bill in Friday’s Woodbine headliner and should be favored in the second-level allowance with a $62,500 claiming option.

Much Rejoicing, a nicely bred daughter of Distorted Humor and 1999 champion female turf runner Soaring Softly, won her debut with a 79 Beyer Speed Figure on the dirt at Gulfstream on Feb. 14. She ran much faster six weeks later over Polytrack at Keeneland, when she notched a first-level allowance over about seven furlongs in a time that earned her an 88 Beyer.

Much Rejoicing has been laid up since June 5, when she came up empty on a hot day at Belmont in the Grade 1 Acorn. She worked on the grass at Saratoga throughout the latter part of the summer, before breezing five-eighths at Belmont on Sept. 12. Friday’s race will be run at six furlongs over Polytrack.

Chantal Sutherland will ride Much Rejoicing for trainer Jimmy Toner, who trained Soaring Softly and sent out Zifzaf to finish a respectable fifth behind Court Vision in last Sunday’s Grade 1 Woodbine Mile.

School Girl has been well worth the $32,000 that trainer Steve Asmussen claimed her for in April at Keeneland. She has since scored twice here in optional claiming company, while competing with a tag on both occasions.

Most recently going 6 1/2 furlongs on Aug. 19, School Girl rallied inside to defeat four of her current rivals – Amazon Belle, Red Release, D’wild Beach, and Dash It Dreamer.

Amazon Belle has run hot and cold since winning her first two starts at this stand, in maiden and allowance company. After ending up second to School Girl on Polytrack on Aug. 19, she was softened up in a speed duel in a seven-furlong turf sprint, finishing seventh of eight.

Amazon Belle runs best from a stalking position and is being reunited with leading rider Eurico Da Silva after a one-race absence.

Red Release captured a five-furlong allowance for nonwinners of two lifetime in her penultimate race and then earned a career-high 78 Beyer when third behind School Girl on Aug. 19.

The speedy D’wild Beach captured her first two outings in June and July, but she couldn’t keep up after going too fast in her latest.

D’wild Beach could get hounded on the lead by Dash It Dreamer, who has only run one clunker in four appearances this year, which came on the dirt at Fort Erie.