Ready to Collect, Wagner get rubber match in final leg of Woodbine Turf Sprint Series
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Ready to Collect won the opening race of the Woodbine Turf Sprint Series over five furlongs on the inner course. Wagner jumped into the second leg going six furlongs on the main turf and ran down Ready to Collect late to prevail. With bragging rights on the line Friday, they will clash again in the anchor leg of the series going seven furlongs on the main course.
Ready to Collect prefers to attend the pace in five-furlong sprints, like he did when winning the first leg convincingly with a career-high 86 Beyer Speed Figure.
Ready to Collect ran big again for trainer Roger Broomes in the middle leg, during which he dueled up front with Artemus Citylimits before putting that classy rival away and holding on for second. Artemus Citylimits came back to win a first-level allowance/optional claimer in front-running style last Sunday.
Wagner was reunited with trainer Sylvain Pion following a one-race winter stint March 22 at Fair Grounds, where he finished third in a first-level allowance. He has been trying to clear that condition here ever since and turned in several solid performances, including a second to the talented Laskay on the Tapeta in July.
Wagner ran the race of his life Sept. 4 in the fast-paced middle leg. After saving ground in fourth until the head of the stretch, he rallied outside on his left lead to score by daylight with a career-best 87 Beyer.
Wagner, with Romero Maragh aboard, is probably better suited to seven furlongs than Ready to Collect, who could have other speed to deal with under Keveh Nicholls.
Five others were entered in the sixth-race feature. Those who competed for no more than $25,000 in 2025-26 can run protected; those who didn’t, run with a $40,000 claiming tag, including Bachelor Pad, who drew post 1 for the third time in a row.
Bachelor Pad struggled after missing the break when he was expected to show speed in his penultimate start. He dropped from that allowance/optional claimer to $25,000 most recently and led all the way going seven furlongs, his 19th win in 54 outings. He hasn’t tried the grass in more than a year and has a win and a second from three turf starts.
Hemlo Gold is shortening up off back-to-back victories going 1 1/16 miles on different surfaces. He disposed of $15,000 opponents on the Tapeta while claimed by trainer Audrey Cheung on Aug. 9 and then doubled up for $25,000 on the inner turf Sept. 5. The popular 5-year-old was second to Bachelor Bay in his last seven-furlong attempt in May.
Real Savvy folded in the stretch last time in a first-level allowance sprint on the main turf. The front-runner was previously knocking on the door at that class on the Tapeta and could go with Ready to Collect early.
Givememythememusic is making his second start off a $15,000 claim by hot trainer Zeljko Krcmar and rarely runs a bad one.
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