Richards has pair of good ones

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The Lorne Richards-trained entry of Ok Nothanksforaskn and Back Pack Shack could make an impact in Thursday's Woodbine feature, a six-furlong allowance for 2-year-olds.

Ok Nothanksforaskn and Back Pack Shack were both purchased privately by owner K.K. Sangara from trainer Mark Casse.

Ok Nothanksforaskn finished a distant third over a sloppy strip in his first start for Richards and Sangara on Oct. 23. OK Nothanksforaskn was much sharper over a fast track most recently, taking a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special by 3 1/4 lengths and earning a 77 Beyer Speed Figure in the process.

Back Pack Shack finished third when he made his debut for Casse on Sept. 30. He returned with Richards on Nov. 27, winning a five-furlong maiden dash by a widening six lengths, for a 72 Beyer.

Apprentice Emma Wilson, Woodbine's leading rider, takes over on Ok Nothanksforaskn, and Todd Kabel retains the mount on Back Pack Shack.

Other possibilities in Thursday's headliner, the ninth race on an 11-race card, include Storm Caller, In Good Company, Why Not Silver, Italiano, and Ashlee's Cat.

Storm Caller was bet down to 5-2 in his lone outing Oct. 16 and made most of the running to prevail with a 71 Beyer. He has worked five furlongs five times in the interim for trainer Reade Baker, who has 51 winners out of 271 starters at the meet.

Jim McAleney, the regular rider of Ok Nothanksforaskn, is sticking with Storm Caller.

In Good Company got away slowly in his first two starts, but most recently he posted a front-running score over $40,000 claimers. He overcame some adversity when he won his debut and might be an off-the-pace threat here off the claim by trainer Franz Crean.

Why Not Silver, a Silver Deputy colt trained by Casse, is a half-brother to stakes winners Bunbeg and Eseni. He defeated $50,000 maidens by six lengths when he made his debut in October, but was beaten 27 3/4 lengths last out after flashing speed in a 1 1/16-mile allowance Nov. 16.

Italiano faced many of the top 2-year-olds on the grounds in his first seven outings and finally won his maiden in his eighth appearance. Most recently, in the Display Stakes, he stalked the pace on the outside before fading to seventh.

Ashlee's Cat, a nicely bred son of Tale of the Cat and Nandi Stakes winner Classic Ashlee, won a relatively slow maiden race in his first start. He went on to finish fifth in the Silver Deputy Stakes and was seventh in the Coronation Futurity.