Prince Almasty cuts back on main turf
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Prince Almasty has been highly competitive at the nonwinners-of-two class for Ontario-sired allowance types and $40,000 claimers. He goes back to the turf in Friday’s Woodbine feature at that level and should be prominent in the seven-furlong main course sprint.
Trained by Ted Holder, Prince Almasty ran three consecutive solid races on the inner turf in June and July. After graduating for $25,000 on June 6, the 4-year-old ascended to this level July 9, when he awaited room along the inside on the far turn before making up ground to finish a length back in fourth.
Prince Almasty went off at 22-1 two back when third on the stretch-out from 7 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/16 miles. Switching to the Tapeta most recently, he set a fast pace on a live rail before getting nailed on the wire in the 1 1/16-mile route, earning a career-high 77 Beyer Speed Figure in the process.
Jose Campos retains the mount from post 9 on Prince Almasty, who is owned by David Bloom.
Into Diamonds is the lone shipper in the lineup. The 4-year-old son of perennial leading sire Into Mischief looked to have a bright future when second here in the 2024 Victoria Stakes in his first start after a debut score at Keeneland. He has been campaigned sporadically ever since, however, making his last two starts in a pair of 5 1/2-furlong turf sprints at Saratoga.
Off an extended layoff Aug. 9, Into Diamonds checked in eighth after a wide trip in a first-level allowance. He dropped to $40,000 nonwinners-of-two company most recently Aug. 20 and finished a fading fifth after having to be checked. Trainer Mark Casse worked him an easy half-mile on the Tapeta here Sept. 25 and has lured Fraser Aebly for the mount.
Andtheoscargoesto is moving up off a breakout maiden score going 7 1/2 furlongs on the inner turf. Trainer Beverly Chubb will give Juan Crawford a leg up on the full brother to stakes winner Full Screen, who may have found his niche in longer turf sprints.
Its in the Cards has been knocking on the door against nonwinners-of-two company. The closer ran second in his penultimate race for $25,000 and was second again most recently in a seven-furlong sprint at this level on the main course, which was won by a rival who came right back to land a restricted stakes at Fort Erie. Emma-Jayne Wilson, who is closing in on her 2,000th career victory, has the call for trainer Mike DePaulo.
Semper Liber used a speed style in his last two outings going long on the inner turf, running second for $25,000 and fourth after setting a fast pace at this class. Over the past five years, trainer Krista Cole has a 9 percent strike rate with turnbacks, and this one retains hot apprentice Christoff Douglas.
Main-track-only entrant Awesome Beat placed in two of his last three starts for Canadian Hall of Fame trainer Sid Attard.
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