Several bred to make a splash in first turf try

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Friday’s seventh race at Woodbine is a pivotal one for ardent pick four players because it’s the anchor leg of the first pick four and the second leg of the second one on the nine-race card.

A field of 14, including two also eligibles, was drawn for the maiden race that combines Ontario-sired runners with $40,000 claimers. The fillies trying the turf for the first time could dominate the 6 1/2-furlong sprint in lane 4 on the main course.

Silent Tribute is by Silent Name, the most successful turf sire in Ontario during the past five years, who has gotten 13 percent winners in grass sprints. She’s the second foal from Grade 3 Maple Leaf winner Ice Festival, who finished second in the 1 1/4-mile Wonder Where Stakes here on the main course.

A $120,000 Keeneland yearling buy, Silent Tribute finished second behind a next-out winner in her season debut before a wide fifth over a rail-biased track when moving out from five to seven furlongs. Eswan Flores will ride her again for trainer Stuart Simon.

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Silent Sky is another daughter of Silent Name who finished a flat fifth last out following a runner-up placing. Her versatile dam, Flashy Got Even, won a second-level allowance on the grass here at a big price, and she produced one winner from five turf starters.

Kazushi Kimura picks up the mount on Silent Sky. Woodbine’s leading rider has a 22 percent success rate for her trainer, Kevin Attard.

Ravello Beauty is dropping from open maiden special weight company for her first outing since a 22-length loss going long on the Tapeta here Oct. 29. By the mediocre turf-sprint sire Mastery, Ravello Beauty is out of the Grade 3-winning grass mare Bel Air Beauty, who produced turf stakes winner Stacked Deck and the Grade 2-placed turf expert Valentino Beauty.

Ravello Beauty has been working right along for trainer Barbara Minshall, who has been winning at a 10 percent clip with six-month-plus layoff types. Luis Contreras has the mount, and the journeyman is 1 for 8 at the meet for the barn.

Maralinga also is by a low-percentage turf sire and out of a good grass producer. The daughter of Runhappy is a half-sister to local turf stakes winners Jacally and Dene Court, along with the stakes-placed marathoner Theregoesjojo.

Smiles for David is coming off a second-place finish and a $25,000 claim by trainer Dale Desruisseaux. He has scored at an 18 percent rate off the claim during the last five years, with a positive return on investment of $2.08.

Smiles for David is by the 8 percent turf sprint sire Tiznow, and there’s no grass breeding in her immediate family.

Grace On the Green never fired in her season opener on the Tapeta, but she made the board in both of her turf starts here last June, including a troubled second on the main course. Trainer Jennifer Stein is removing the blinkers.

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