Not So Quiet tries to pick up where he left off in Thorncliffe Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The retirement last year of five-time Canadian champion male sprinter Pink Lloyd has left a big hole in Woodbine’s sprint division. It could be filled by another Ontario-sired gelding, Not So Quiet, who will be among the favorites in Sunday’s $100,000 Thorncliffe, a 5 1/2-furlong overnight stakes on the Tapeta.

Trained by Mark Casse for Heste Sport, Not So Quiet reached full bloom last year at 6. After ending up third to Souper Stonehenge and Pink Lloyd in the Grade 3 Vigil on Aug. 1, he won a pair of Ontario-sired stakes using different running styles.

After a tardy start in the five-furlong Vice Regent on the inner turf, Not So Quiet closed stoutly along the rail to score with a career-high 98 Beyer Speed Figure. He reverted to a speed style in the seven-furlong Overskate on the Tapeta and prevailed by 3 1/2 lengths with a 95 Beyer.

Casse said Not So Quiet was injured after the Overskate on Oct. 9. The Thorncliffe is his first start in six months.

“He’s been training good,” Casse said. “He may be just a touch short for this. What’s impressive about him is he can do anything.”

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Richiesinthehouse looks like a major player. The speedy 18-time winner was a $62,500 claim by owner John Scott and trainer Francine Villeneuve from trainer Larry Rivelli here Nov. 7, when he missed the break before closing for second. Three weeks later, Richiesinthehouse was collared late by Pink Lloyd in the Grade 2 Kennedy Road and wound up second.

“For him to run back that way in his first start [for me] was pretty impressive,” Villeneuve recalled.

Richiesinthehouse has worked three times on the Tapeta this spring. He zipped a half-mile in 46.60 seconds on March 26, and then followed it up with two slow five-eighths drills. Villeneuve said the 8-year-old might not need a race before getting back into peak form.

“He’s a funny horse,” Villeneuve explained. “He went from a 46 work to a 1:04 and change. I’m still trying to figure him out. I have confidence in him in that he knows what to do. Obviously, he’s got a great win percentage.

“We have to start somewhere in order to progress, and this seems like a logical spot. He looks like a six or seven-eighths kind of horse, but at the beginning of his career, he did win going five-eighths and five and a half on the turf. He’ll be a contender, for sure.”

Completing the nine-horse field are Silent Poet, Lapochka, White Flag, Spite Store, Arzak, Lenny K, and Clear Destination.

Turf specialist Silent Poet has been idle since his victory in the Grade 1 Highlander in August. He drew the rail and could set the pace with Richiesinthehouse in close proximity.