Rapid Test needs to turn the tables on Paramount Prince for Overskate repeat

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Rapid Test tries to win the $150,000 Overskate Stakes for the second year in a row at Woodbine Sunday when he locks horns with the imposing Paramount Prince and six others in the 7 1/2-furlong inner turf tilt for older Ontario-sired stock.

Rapid Test failed to find the winner’s circle in six starts this year, but he was competitive against some formidable opposition. He ran third behind the two-time Canadian champion Paramount Prince four times, including a wide fourth behind that rival in the Grade 3 Seagram Cup.

An inner turf specialist, Rapid Test rallied for second behind the talented Piper’s Factor in a 7 1/2-furlong conditioned allowance on the surface in June.

“He’s in good order,” trainer Catherine Day-Phillips said. “I’m excited to see him back on the inner turf.”

Austin Adams has the mount on Rapid Test, who’s owned by Kingfield Racing Stable and Apricot Valley Thoroughbreds.

Paramount Prince, Ready to Collect, and Ciunas were all supplemented.

The 2023 King’s Plate victor, Paramount Prince has done the bulk of his damage on the Tapeta, but the speedy gelding showed an affinity for the grass most recently while losing a nail-biter to Wicked Django in the Grand Valley Stakes for Ontario-breds on the main course.

Paramount Prince was previously victorious in the restricted Caledon Stakes, for which he got a 97 Beyer Speed Figure, the same number he received in the Seagram Cup. Fraser Aeby will ride him again for trainer Mark Casse.

Ready to Collect could hook up with Paramount Prince on the front end. A rags-to-riches acquisition for owner Jamar Gibson, Ready to Collect won two of the three legs of this year’s Woodbine Turf Sprint Series, a glorified starter/optional claimer. The 5-year-old got an 87 Beyer last time when taking the anchor leg of that series traveling seven furlongs on the main turf. He has six inner turf victories to his credit, all going five furlongs.

Ciunas was sold privately after capturing his second straight allowance/optional claimer with a 90 Beyer going a mile on the inner turf Sept. 20. He is currently based at Saratoga with trainer Miguel Clement.

Rounding out the field are Hunt Master, Dark Screen, Souped Up, and Next Pitch.

A $50,000 claim last year by owner Bruno Schickedanz, Hunt Master finished a close second after cutting out all the fractions in the 2025 Overskate. He won both of his starts over a mile last winter at Sam Houston, but couldn’t keep up in his last two outings.

Dark Screen has gone winless in seven starts at the meet while often in the hunt. The 4-year-old is stretching out off a ground-saving fourth in a five-furlong conditioned allowance.

Souped Up should be prominent early on a surface over which he failed to crack the top three in two starts. He took the Grade 3 Bold Venture while earning a 90 Beyer in his penultimate race and is coming off a fading fifth in another Tapeta sprint, the Grade 3 Vigil.

Next Pitch closed stoutly last time out, narrowly losing a one-mile Ontario-sired allowance on the main turf.