Productive claimer Verdejo makes first start back with MacRae
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Verdejo has proven to be a solid $25,000 claimer for whoever has her. She competes at that level in a six-furlong Tapeta sprint Thursday at Woodbine in the third race on a seven-race card with a 3:10 p.m. post time.
Trainer Don MacRae lost Verdejo on Nov. 7 when she placed in her third consecutive $25,000 claimer. Her new trainer, Abraham Katryan, didn’t have any success with her in three subsequent starts against first-level allowance/optional-claiming company, but she found the mark for $25,000 as a 20-1 overlay on May 15.
Verdejo wound up third for $25,000 in each of her last two outings, most recently when reclaimed by MacRae, who has a 20 percent strike rate off a claim. MacRae has worked the 7-year-old three times leading up to Thursday’s engagement and has lined up Rafael Hernandez, who has ridden her 10 times while scoring just once.
Among the others in the nine-horse field of fillies and mares are Rock Hard Rose, Prima, Dancetotherhythm, Super Sicily, and More Money Hunny.
Rock Hard Rose has been a productive claim by trainer Steve Chircop, who haltered her for $15,000 from her maiden victory in late November. She failed to win on the dirt over the winter but was victorious over $15,000 nonwinners-of-three types when back on the Tapeta here May 2.
After ending up second to next-out winner Soupergirl on May 15, Rock Hard Rose won a $15,000 claimer decisively with Emma-Jayne Wilson aboard on June 13. The 71 Beyer Speed Figure she earned then isn’t far off the Beyer par of 74 for this class.
Prima was competitive for $15,000 on the Tapeta before trainer John Mattine boosted her up to $25,000 most recently, when she was a slow-starting third on the inner turf. Mattine has won at a 10 percent clip when going from turf to synthetic over the past five years. Fraser Aebly picks up the mount on the 5-year-old.
Dancetotherhythm is debuting off a $25,000 claim by capable Fort Erie-based trainer Mark Fournier. She finished a flat fourth then but was previously a prominent second for $25,000 in her second race off the sidelines. The meet’s leading rider, Pietro Moran, was aboard for her last win in November and has the call Thursday.
Super Sicily has been racing since the spring of 2025 without a break. She was claimed from Katryan when winning a $25,000 event over Verdejo on Nov. 7. Trainer Mike DePaulo has campaigned her since then and sent her out to win for $25,000 on June 6. Most recently in a first-level allowance/optional claimer, Super Sicily, raced wide throughout after a slow start and failed to reach contention, eventually finishing sixth.
More Money Hunny was protected by waiver off a layoff when fourth behind Verdejo and Super Sicily after getting softened up in a speed duel May 15. She has worked extensively in the interim could make some noise with Ryan Munger replacing Hernandez.
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