Pepper Brooks looks to stay perfect in sprint
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Pepper Brooks has some mighty big shoes to fill if he’s to emulate his champion half-brother Patches O’Houlihan. The speedy sophomore will try to remain unbeaten in Thursday’s featured sixth race at Woodbine, a nonwinners-of-two hybrid sprint for Ontario-sired allowance types and $40,000 claimers.
Pepper Brooks worked strongly heading into his debut in a six-furlong maiden special weight on Aug. 9. Sent off at 5-2 under Rafael Hernandez, the son of Souper Speedy battled for the lead along the rail before drawing clear late to win by 1 1/2 lengths with a 74 Beyer Speed Figure.
Hernandez retains the mount and was aboard when Pepper Brooks breezed a bullet five furlongs in 59 seconds on Aug. 27. After beginning five lengths behind stablemate New Renaissance, he rallied on his left lead through the stretch to catch her near the wire. New Renaissance beat $10,000 maidens after a troubled trip last Friday.
Robert Tiller trains Pepper Brooks for owner-breeder Frank Di Giulio Jr., the same connections who campaigned 2024 Canadian Horse of the Year and champion male sprinter Patches O’Houlihan. Both are named after characters in the cinematic comedy “Dodgeball.”
Trainer Sid Attard runs Awesome Beat and Navy Street in the seven-horse field.
Awesome Beat romped three starts back in a seven-furlong sprint for Ontario-sired and $40,000 maidens, earning a 75 Beyer as the favorite. The 4-year-old finished third and fifth in his two starts at this level this summer, both going 1 1/16 miles.
Attard has been winning at around an impressive 30 percent clip at the meet. Going back five years, he had a 17 percent strike rate going route to sprint on Tapeta, with a return on investment of $1.86.
Navy Street lost a nail-biter after being ridden hard on the outside July 30. The son of Jimmy Creed has some grass breeding, but he never fired most recently when going seven furlongs on the main course. Attard has low numbers going turf to synthetic.
Eswan Flores has been riding both Attard charges and is sticking with Navy Street. Romero Maragh takes over on Awesome Beat.
Completing the field for the 6 1/2-furlong feature are Egbert Who, B the King, Speights Will, and Cajun Influence.
Egbert Who wasn’t a factor during a wide trip last time in the Lake Superior Stakes for Ontario-sired 3-year-olds, which came on the heels of a poor showing on the inner turf. He got a 78 Beyer in a narrow loss at this level June 14, during which he led until the last jump.
B the King crushed $25,000 maidens in his penultimate race on the Tapeta and was only an early factor most recently when sixth on the main turf.
Speights Will was stakes-placed last year at 2, but he’s failed to hit the board in five starts this year, ending up just behind B the King on the grass Aug. 21.
Cajun Influence could vie for the lead with Pepper Brooks in his second try with a $40,000 tag at this level.
Post time for the eight-race card is 3:10 p.m.
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