Retail Therapist figures to be favored in starter handicap
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The consistent Retail Therapist has run two solid races at the Woodbine meet against first-level allowance/optional-claiming company. She should be favored in Friday’s $65,000 Midsummer Handicap, a one-mile inner turf route for females who have started for $25,000 claiming or less in 2025-26.
Retail Therapist ran twice at Tampa Bay Downs in April, defeating $16,000 claimers in front-running style before ending up third in a $16,000 starter allowance. She was reunited with trainer Sylvan Pion here in the spring and came close to clearing the first allowance condition from off the pace when second June 6 going 7 1/2 furlongs.
In another 7 1/2-furlong inner turf event for allowance/optional claimers July 19, Retail Therapist got away slowly before rallying for third.
Retail Therapist has lots of speed to close into on Friday under Rafael Hernandez. Among a field of six, she’s the 124-pound co-highweight along with Purr Factor.
With the rail out in lane 4 on the course, the speedy Purr Factor has a puncher’s chance to lead all the way.
Purr Factor ended a slump June 20, when she dropped to $25,000 and wired the field going three-quarters on the Tapeta. When ambitiously spotted most recently in a 7 1/2-furlong conditioned allowance on the inner turf, she led until midstretch with the rail in lane 4 and then faded to third.
Skye Chernetz will ride Purr Factor again for streaky trainer Devon Gittens.
Zisisit and Ready to Battle also possess early foot.
Zisisit wintered at Turf Paradise, where she was competitive in allowances and finished fourth in a minor stakes. She won her second start after being reunited with trainer Phil Hall here June 27, a front-running score in a $25,000 claimer going 7 1/2 furlongs on the inner course. The 78 Beyer Speed Figure she earned is the highest last-out Beyer in this field.
Keveh Nicholls retains the mount on Zisisit, who was claimed for $32,000 last August by Hall.
Ready to Battle is moving up off a second versus $25,000 conditioned-claiming company and a claim by trainer Dominic Polsinelli on June 12. She worked five-eighths in a bullet 58.40 seconds on the training track July 11 and will be ridden by Luis Reyes.
Sheshimaintenance won two in a row early in the winter at Gulfstream Park, including a restricted allowance on the grass. She has placed in all three of her outings here this spring, all under a mile. Sent off at 4-5 most recently, she rallied wide off slow fractions over an inside-biased Tapeta to end up second in a $7,500 starter allowance.
Romero Maragh takes over on Sheshimaintenance, his first mount for trainer Zelijko Krcmar
Nikita’s Gem is sent out by red-hot trainer Sid Attard. The versatile 5-year-old came from third to beat $25,000 nonwinners-of-three rivals on the inner turf June 12 under Pietro Moran, who will ride her again.
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