Piper's Factor heads north to regain mojo after tough Kentucky run
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Piper’s Factor drops out of a Churchill Downs stakes Sunday to contest Woodbine’s featured conditioned allowance with an $80,000 claiming option, scheduled for 7 1/2 furlongs on the inner turf.
Trained by Katerina Vassilieva for Chiefswood Stables, Piper’s Factor notched his first stakes wins in the Toronto Cup on the main turf last August under Sofia Vives, who has the mount on Sunday. The homebred is coming off three straight fourth-place finishes against formidable opposition in Kentucky, beginning with the Grade 3 Commonwealth Turf at Churchill in November.
Piper’s Factor was beaten 4 1/4 lengths after closing from seventh in a third-level allowance in his April 8 season opener at Keeneland. He didn’t have the smoothest of trips most recently in the Opening Verse after breaking from the rail under Kazushi Kimura, finishing 2 1/2 lengths in arrears.
“Kimura had him in a good stalking position most of the race,” Vassilieva recalled. “Turning for home, there was no opening down on the inside, so Kazushi swung him out but then faced a wall of horses ahead of him. He ended up swinging back in and out for a few strides looking for a seam, which cost him some momentum. He got beat a couple of lengths by some very nice horses and never stopped trying.”
Vassilieva believes that Piper’s Factor has reached full bloom this year at age 4.
“He matured a lot over the winter and has proven he belongs amongst some tougher company,” Vassilieva said. “I expect him to hit his best stride now, especially since he’s back on his home turf.”
Among the others in the 10-horse field are Never Surprised, Wolfie’s Dynaghost, Niagara Skyline, and Secret Reserve.
Trained by Kevin Attard for Repole Stable, Never Surprised ended a drought when beating Shirl’s Speight and Wicked Django in a tough conditioned allowance over 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf in October. The classy first-time gelding has been sidelined since ending up sixth on Nov. 16 in the Grade 2 Autumn on the Tapeta, not his surface of choice.
The speedy Wolfie’s Dynaghost is making his first start since March of 2024. The 7-year-old is known for his ability on synthetic, but he was a capable turf runner during his formative years. After spending March at Palm Meadows, he has been working at Keeneland for trainer Jonathan Thomas, who’s had lots of success with his shippers to Woodbine.
Off since November, Niagara Skyline finished in the money in all three of his inner turf excursions last year, which included a victory going 7 1/2 furlongs. He has tactical speed and figures to track Wolfie’s Dynaghost early before making a bid.
Secret Reserve has been laid up since running second to Ron’s Gizmo in the Steady Growth Stakes for Ontario-sired stock on the Tapeta on Dec. 15. The multiple stakes winner is equally adept on either surface and can acquit himself well when fresh.
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