Party On debuts against males on maiden-laden card

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Maidens make up five of the eight races on Thursday’s Woodbine card, beginning with a five-furlong maiden special for 2-year-olds in the opener.

All six entrants in the first are debuting, including Party On, a $50,000 yearling purchase who is the lone filly in the lineup. Trainer Kevin Attard sent her out to breeze a half-mile from the gate in 48.20 seconds on June 10. The daughter of 18 percent 2-year-old first-out sire Twirling Candy went a half in 47.60 on July 1, which was the 13th fastest of 95 works at the distance.

Emma-Jayne Wilson will ride Party On. She’s 2 for 10 at the meet for Attard, who’s had a very productive run with his juveniles this year, including a maiden-special score last Saturday with Rosa.

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Valyrian Sky has worked nicely for trainer John Ross and goes with blinkers and jockey Rafael Hernandez. The Ontario-bred is by the good 14 percent 2-year-old debut sire Sky Mesa.

In the second race, Miss Lindysue is dropping to $14,000 off a flat fourth at first asking in a hybrid turf event combining Ontario-sired and $40,000 maidens. Her trainer, Marty Drexler, won at a 12 percent clip with maiden second-timers during the past five years, with a return on investment of $1.37. Apprentice Amanda Vandermeersch rides the daughter of Society’s Chairman for owner Bruno Schickedanz.

P.S. Rising Star is competing on short rest in the third race off a charging second in a $10,000 Tapeta sprint that was taken off the inner turf due to rain. Two races back at this $15,000 level on the inner course, she checked in third behind a sharp Speed Chess and Kimono Kate in her only turf start.

Other possibilities in the third race include Leading Force and Ashlee’s Ring, who both ran decently while improving on the inner course last time out.

Silent Sky goes long for the first time in the seventh race, a Tapeta event for Ontario-sired and $40,000 maidens. The daughter of Silent Name is out of a stakes-placed router who dropped three winners from five route starters on the main track. Her trainer, Kevin Attard, has solid numbers with stretch-outs.

Longtime maidens Mardene and Sensational Sarah are both eligible to hit the board in the seventh race. Mardene hasn’t raced since December. Her trainer, Sylvain Pion, posted a 10 percent strike rate with layoff runners off at least six months during the last five years, with a positive ROI.

The nightcap, for bottom $7,500 maidens, seems wide open. It can probably be pared down to Wanna Play, Navy Blue Angel, Secret Sunshine, Favorite Channel, and It’s a Big Song. It’s a Big Song was softened up in a speed duel before finishing well back in her July 2 debut against $25,000 maidens. She’s sent out by high-percentage second-out trainer Norm McKnight.

Post time for the twilight card is 4:50 p.m.

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