Really Sharp tries to notch elusive first turf win in Friday feature
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Really Sharp is one of several stakes winners in Friday’s Woodbine headliner, a second-level optional claimer scheduled for seven furlongs on the grass.
Really Sharp had a useful winter campaign at Gulfstream before coming home to finish a close third in the April 13 Jacques Cartier Stakes. He subsequently won the Grade 3 Vigil Stakes using an aggressive speed style and then ran second to a peaking Frac Daddy when he stretched out from seven furlongs to 1 1/16 miles in the Grade 2 Eclipse Stakes.
Really Sharp bombed in his first turf start of the meet in the Grade 2 Nijinsky in July, against the likes of Canadian Horse of the Year Up With the Birds and Dynamic Sky. His next two races on the Polytrack were disappointing, but he rebounded most recently with a second going six furlongs Oct. 11 at Friday’s classification.
Emma-Jayne Wilson retains the mount on Really Sharp for trainer Ian Black. They teamed up to finish second with Excaper in the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.
The feature attracted 16 runners, including the also-eligible No Risk No Reward and main-track-only entrant Sniper.
KEY CONTENDERS
Really Sharp (Last 3 Beyers: 85-86-78)
◗ He showed that he enjoys the turf by finishing second and third in a pair of five-furlong allowances at Gulfstream. His outside draw may be to his disadvantage, although the course is quite roomy when lane 1 is used.
Occasional View (Last 3 Beyers: 79-87-75)
◗ The 6-year-old is winless since taking the Grade 3 Commonwealth at Keeneland in April, while competing predominantly in graded stakes on turf and Polytrack. He was more forwardly placed than usual last time before weakening to fourth in the same race that Really Sharp exits and is arguably at his best as a closing sprinter.
Lafontaine (Last 3 Beyers: 82-84-82)
◗ He pulled off an upset in the July 20 Toronto Cup, which included eventual stakes winner Heart to Heart. He set honest fractions before fading to fourth among two next-out winners most recently at Delaware in the Grade 3 Kent, another 1 1/8-mile stakes for 3-year-olds. Seven furlongs is shorter than his preferred distance.
Star Contender (Last 3 Beyers: 82-85-85)
◗ The 2012 Cup and Saucer Stakes winner has been knocking on the door at this level since returning from a one-year layoff in the spring.
Constantino (Last 3 Beyers: 80-80-82)
◗ The consistent 4-year-old has never tried turf but is bred for the task at hand.