Objection Denied looks set to graduate

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The only two non-claiming events on Friday’s Woodbine Racetrack card are both for Ontario-sired runners, and neither of those races contain any world-beaters.

The Bob Tiller-trained Objection Denied should be favored in the third, a five-furlong maiden special for 3-year-olds up.

Objection Denied made all six of his starts in Ontario-sired maiden sprints. He wound up fourth in each of his first two outings at the meet, before ending up second to Don’t Think Twice in a slow six-furlong dash Aug. 18.

After two consecutive substandard efforts early in the fall, Objection Denied rebounded in his second try with blinkers Nov. 3. He raced prominently on the outside in that six-furlong contest and seemed headed for victory in midstretch before well-bet first-timer Stormin Willie came charging down the center of the track to win going away.

A red-hot Luis Contreras inherits the mount on Objection Denied from apprentice Omar Moreno, who is riding Shades of Gold.

Shades of Gold has finished second or third in half of his 12 outings. He is coming off back-to-back seconds under Moreno, including a nose loss as the favorite, and is obviously a must-use underneath in exotic wagers.

King Naive is another possibility in the third. He competed over a variety of surfaces this year, but all three of his top-three placings came on the dirt at Fort Erie, which is where he finished a chalky third in his last start.

The improving Time Capsule is going long for the first time in the eighth, a 1 1/16-mile maiden special for 2-year-old fillies.

Time Capsule was fifth behind future stakes winner Medabuck when she debuted over five furlongs Aug. 27 and then ran second a month later going three-quarters. She rallied belatedly on the outside for third most recently.

Time Capsule is a daughter of the little-known sire Saffir, who was a modest sprinter by Kentucky Derby winner Unbridled. There are three route winners in her second dam.

Justin Stein will ride Time Capsule for trainer Bev Chubb.

Kalypso Kerry has already started seven times, and she finished second and fourth in her last two races, both over a mile and 70 yards. Patrick Husbands will ride her for trainer Bill Tharrenos, who’s nearing the end of a career year.

Burmah Star is stretching out after finishing second in her 6 1/2-furlong debut.