My Sunny Valentine gets better draw in rescheduled race

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Heading into this week, Sahin Civaci had a commanding 131-105 lead over Rafael Hernandez in the standings and is a slam dunk to win his first Woodbine riding title and Sovereign Award for outstanding jockey.

Civaci rides favored My Sunny Valentine in Friday’s eighth race, a first-level allowance with a $32,000 claiming option going 6 1/2 furlongs. She was marooned in the outside post in a huge field when this race was originally carded on the portion of last Saturday’s card that was canceled due to track safety concerns. This time, she drew more favorably in post 3.

My Sunny Valentine is seeking her third win in a row following a pair of scores when tagged for $32,000, the price for which she’s racing on Friday. She earned a 77 Beyer Speed Figure both times, and her last race contained two next-out winners.

Trainer Marty Drexler sends out My Sunny Valentine and Gloriannia, who has won two of her last three outings under Hernandez.

Gloriannia topped $25,000 claimers on the main turf three back and prevailed at the same level in her latest on the Tapeta while earning a 78 Beyer. Those triumphs sandwiched a lapped-on third behind next-out winner Poppy’s Joy in a one-mile turf route at this level.

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Since the beginning of last year, Drexler has won at a 21 percent clip with horses exiting a victory, with a return on investment of $1.44.

Anam Cara could factor into the outcome as a longshot. A restricted stakes winner at 2, the 4-year-old was shut out last year, but has beaten $25,000 claimers at a square price twice this year. Jeffrey Alderson will ride her, his first mount for trainer Sarah Ritchie.

Mrs. C seems well spotted off a victory in a hybrid sprint for nonwinners-of-two Ontario-sired allowance runners and $40,000 claimers. David Moran replaces Civaci on the late bloomer, who took 19 starts to earn her diploma.

Leading trainer Mark Casse entered Lunch With Bernie, who wasn’t in last Saturday’s race. She came close to winning an easier allowance last out when second, which ended a string of out-of-the money finishes that included a fifth in the Woodbine Oaks. Patrick Husbands inherits the mount from Civaci on the daughter of Bernardini.

Determined First, based in Maryland with trainer Mike Trombetta, got a break after finishing fourth over yielding turf in a restricted allowance on July 25 at Colonial Downs. She has been working over the Tapeta at the Fair Hill Training Center in preparation for her first synthetic-track start. By the 11 percent synthetic sprint sire Street Sense, the Sam-Son Farm-bred is a half-sister to graded turf stakes winner Say the Word and Rideforthecause.

Souper Flashy also is returning from a freshening. She ran fifth among two next-out winners when cutting back to 5 1/2 furlongs Aug. 31. Apprentice Austin Adams takes over and has solid numbers for trainer Kevin Attard.

Post time for the expanded 10-race card is 1:10 p.m.

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