Patiently handled Phillip My Wine looks ready despite layoff
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Phillip My Wine returns from an extended layoff in Friday’s fifth race at Woodbine and looks poised to earn his diploma in the 6 1/2-furlong turf sprint that combines Ontario-sired runners and $40,000 claiming maidens.
Owned by Openwood Farm, Phillip My Wine started twice early last summer with Sahin Civaci riding for trainer Angus Buntain. The stretch-running 4-year-old finished third and fourth in those outings, both 6 1/2-furlong maiden sprints on the main turf, after which he went to the sidelines.
“He had a minor issue,” Buntain said. “We probably could have gone on with him, but we feel that he’s potentially a good horse. We just decided the best thing for him was to shut him down and put him on the owner’s farm.”
Phillip My Wine has worked strongly this spring and doesn’t figure to need a race, according to Buntain. The son of Frac Daddy breezed a half-mile in a bullet 49.10 on the training track May 10 and covered five-eighths in 1:00.40 on the Tapeta May 24.
“If it’s not too tough a field, I think he’s gonna run a big race, especially if it stays on the turf,” Buntain predicted. “He’s been working like a monster all spring. Civaci breezed him and said all systems go. I think he’s a pretty good horse.”
Among the others in the field are Countryboysurvive, Holiday Snooze, Conn Smythe, and Wagstaff.
Countryboysurvive is another 4-year-old exiting a long break. He started three times early last year, finishing fifth in back-to-to back maiden-special events on the dirt at Gulfstream Park before a slow-starting sixth here in the Woodstock Stakes on the Tapeta.
A first-time gelding, Countryboysurvive has some turf breeding, which is not the case with Holiday Snooze, a son of Ami’s Holiday who made all three of his starts on the local Tapeta.
Holiday Snooze nearly beat $25,000 maidens going five-eighths on opening day of the meet, after which he ran evenly for fourth in a seven-furlong sprint at this level.
Conn Smythe is making his 3-year-old debut as a new gelding. He posted mixed results in three juvenile excursions, the best of which was a charging fourth at first asking in his lone turf try in late September.
Wagstaff is descending from maiden-special company for his second race off the bench. He was a prominent second behind a future allowance winner in his only turf start in a five-furlong dash on the inner course in September.
First-time gelding Paradise Perfect is appropriate for the lower rungs of the exotics, rather than a win candidate. The 5-year-old, who has placed in seven of 12 turf starts, is unraced since coming up empty in a Dec. 8 Tapeta route against maiden-special opposition.
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