Savvy Hester back to Polytrack in Friday feature

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Savvy Hester, who ran two creditable races on turf at Gulfstream Park over the winter, will return to Polytrack in the Friday feature at Woodbine, a non-winners-of-three optional claimer for fillies and mares over 1 1/16 miles.

Savvy Hester graduated from the non-winners-of-two allowance condition in her first start of the year for trainer Ricky Griffith at Gulfstream on March 1 and followed up with a close second to Ready Signal in the $75,000 Powder Break Stakes on April 5.

“She’s run two solid races on that turf course at Gulfstream, and she’s just getting better with age,” Griffith said. “She’s doing well. Physically, she’s grown up a lot, and she seems to be heading in the right direction.”

Griffith noted that Savvy Hester will be using this race as a prep for the Grade 2 Nassau Stakes at Woodbine on May 25.

Meeting Savvy Hester on Friday is Sam-Son Farm homebred Checkered Past, who will be making her first start since finishing second in the Jammed Lovely Stakes at Woodbine last November, although it’s not for a lack of trying.

“She’s eligible for a two-other-than, but we’ve entered her probably six times now,” said trainer Malcolm Pierce. “We want to run, we’re tired of leaving her in the barn and working, working, working. We’re going to give this spot a shot.”

Checkered Past was with Pierce through the winter at Fair Grounds and during the spring at Keeneland. She comes into this race off a four-furlong breeze in 48.20 seconds on the main track at Woodbine last Saturday.

Floral Sky will be trying the Woodbine Polytrack for the first time Friday. She made two starts on turf at Gulfstream over the winter and was freshened after her last race Feb. 8 by trainer Mark Casse. She’s been posting solid workout times on the synthetic surfaces at the Ocala Training Center and at Woodbine coming into this race.

Waitinginthewings and Peche Mobilee finished 1-2 in a first-level allowance over 1 1/8 miles at Woodbine last November, and both horses spent the winter in Ontario. Waitinginthewings was second in her 2013 debut, which also was around two turns, while Peche Mobilee won that June 1 race against Ontario-sired foes in her second start of the year.

Rounding out the field is Pure Blue Sky, who went without a win in seven starts last season. But Pure Blue Sky did finish third four times for trainer Sam DiPasquale in 2013, placing in both the Grade 3 Ontario Matron and Flaming Page stakes.