With rail out, Peja Du will be tough to reel in
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Following Friday’s seven-race program at Woodbine, the rail on the inner turf will be moved from lane 4 to lane 1 for Saturday’s spectacular Woodbine Mile card. The outermost rail position can favor speed, which should benefit Peja Du in Friday’s sixth race for $25,000 claimers.
A need-the-lead type, Peja Du won 3 of 9 starts last year while campaigned predominantly by trainer Debra Rombis, who lost him for $25,000 in December.
When protected by waiver at this level June 29 after a seven-month layoff, Peja Du led until midstretch before fading to fifth. Rombis claimed him back for $15,000 a month later, when the 5-year-old wired the field in a starter/optional claimer while earning a 78 Beyer Speed Figure.
Peja Du switched to the Tapeta most recently at this class level. After setting fast splits , he weakened late to third in a respectable showing. The inner turf is clearly his preferred course, and he should take some catching when going 1 1/16 miles on Friday under Jeffrey Alderson.
Rombis also is sending out another successful re-claim, Sailor’s Passion, who prevailed in his penultimate start at this price with a 77 Beyer when traveling a mile on the inner turf. The 6-year-old is coming off a wide sixth behind Peja Du on the Tapeta in his fourth start of the season. Apprentice Austin Adams will ride him again.
Hemlo Gold would be dangerous on a repeat of his last outing, a decisive score in a 7 1/2-furlong starter/optional claimer on the inner course, for which he got a career-high 85 Beyer. Trainer Don MacRae claimed him for $25,000 in July when the 5-year-old finished up the track on the Tapeta.
Alley Oop Johnny is dropping back down to the price for which he was claimed three back by trainer Steve Chircop off a fading fifth in a first-level allowance with a $32,000 claiming option. Victorious in 8 of 47 starts, the durable 8-year-old is surprisingly winless in eight starts this year, dating back to the winter at Gulfstream Park when he was competitive against $20,000 claimers.
El Kabong put up back-to-back Beyers in the low 90s when a fringe performer versus tough allowance opposition last fall in Kentucky. When debuting for trainer Katerina Vassilieva off a long layoff here July 19, he rallied inside to finish a close third in the opening leg of the Woodbine turf distance series, a glorified starter allowance on the main turf. He wasn’t a factor most recently after getting bumped at the break in a conditioned allowance/optional claimer on the inner course.
The Marty Drexler trainees Ever Dangerous and Palace View both merit contender status. They are descending from allowance/optional-claiming company, with Ever Dangerous being declared a nonstarter after a troubled break in his last trip postward.
Completing the field is Soulmate, who hasn’t been up to snuff in two starts since getting claimed from Drexler for $25,000 by trainer Mike Wright Jr. on July 12; and Lil Bit Gangsta, who is winless over the past two years.
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