Royal Blush looks primed for a big effort second off a layoff

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Post time for Thursday’s Woodbine card has been pushed back to 6:05 p.m. Eastern due to an extreme heat warning for the Toronto area. With a tightener under her girth, Royal Blush could be ready to fire one of her better shots in the featured nonwinners-of-three turf sprint for Ontario-sired allowance types and $40,000 claimers.

When exiting a winter layoff at this level June 6, Royal Blush missed the break before racing four wide most of the way. The rail position in lane 5 on the main turf didn’t do her any favors, and she finished sixth, 4 1/2 lengths behind the winner.

Last year, Royal Blush won 2 of 12 starts, including a seven-furlong main-turf sprint for nonwinners of two in September, for which she got a 72 Beyer Speed Figure.

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Emma-Jayne Wilson will ride Royal Blush for trainer Ralph Biamonte, whose horses tend to improve with racing following a long break. Wilson has been riding the turf particularly well this spring and should have the 5-year-old near the rear of the field early before making a closing bid.

The 6 1/2-furlong main-turf event drew eight other fillies and mares, including Retail Therapist, She Makes a Point, Bedazzle Me, and Domer Allure.

Retail Therapist hung late when a close second in both of her appearances at the meet, including in a 7 1/2-furlong inner-turf tilt while beating Royal Blush on June 6.

Retail Therapist is winless in her last 14 starts dating back to September 2022. Rafael Hernandez retains the mount for her third race off the sidelines and should have her forwardly placed after breaking from the rail, with the rail in lane 3.

She Makes a Point did her best running around two turns on the Tapeta last year, which included a front-running victory over nonwinners-of-two opponents with a big 83 Beyer in October. The Point of Entry mare pressed the pace before weakening to third in her May 19 seasonal bow traveling 7 1/2 furlongs on the inner turf.

She Makes a Point is debuting off a $40,000 claim for trainer Marty Drexler, who has won at a 17 percent clip off the claim on turf in the past five years, with a return on investment of $1.45. Eswan Flores has the mount.

Bedazzle Me was competitive in both of her races in May at this level, beginning with a runner-up placing in a Tapeta sprint. Most recently, she was checked on the first turn en route to finishing fourth in a 7 1/2-furlong inner-turf contest. Justin Stein was aboard for her Dec. 16 score and has the mount again for trainer Anthony Pottinger.

Domer Allure hasn’t seen action since last September, when she won a 1 1/16-mile nonwinners-of-two route on the inner turf. She wintered in Ocala, Fla., with accomplished layoff trainer Mark Casse. Apprentice Sofia Vives was named on her, as usual.

Post time for the eight-race card is 6:05 p.m.

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