Silent Reserve doing what he does best

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Silent Reserve has found his niche as a five-furlong inner-turf expert and will get to ply his trade against older rivals in Friday’s featured sixth race at Woodbine, a first-level allowance with a $32,000 claiming option.

Trained by Mike Mattine, Silent Reserve started once last year at 2, finishing fifth behind future stakes winners Chiseler and Twin City in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special.

When returning from a 10-month layoff on May 13, Silent Reserve attended the pace on the outside before fading to fourth in a maiden sprint on Tapeta. When switching to five-eighths on the inner turf in a June 2 maiden special, he went straight to the front and expanded his lead throughout to prevail by six lengths with an 82 Beyer Speed Figure.

Silent Reserve was bet down to 8-5 in the July 8 Lake Huron Stakes for Ontario-sired 3-year-olds. He set rapid fractions in that five-furlong inner-turf dash before weakening late to end up second to the once-beaten Patches O’Houlihan. The 84 Beyer he earned is higher than what any of his current rivals have posted this season on the grass.

Eswan Flores was aboard for Silent Reserve’s maiden victory and will ride him again Friday for owners Carlo D’Amato and Stacey Van Camp. The son of Silent Name was a bargain $15,000 purchase at the 2021 Canadian premier yearling sale.

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Napa Spirit could be the main threat to Silent Reserve. The Irish-bred 4-year-old received an 87 Beyer when scoring at this level in front-running style while tagged for $32,000 on Tapeta on April 23. Most recently in a five-furlong conditioned allowance/optional claimer on the inner course, he missed the break and then rushed up to contest the pace on the outside before fading to fifth.

Emma-Jayne Wilson has a return call on Napa Spirit, who was a $32,000 claim last fall by trainer Mike Dunslow for leading owner Bruno Schickedanz.

Sea to Air and Abisko are two more front-runners in the eight-horse field.

Sea to Air wired $25,000 maidens traveling 5 1/2 furlongs on the Tapeta following a one-year absence on June 2. By European champion 2-year-old Air Force Blue, Sea to Air is trying grass for the first time and is out of an unraced mare who failed to produce a winner from two starters on turf.

Abisko, a lightly raced 6-year-old, hasn’t hit the board since landing his debut in fall 2021. He has finished fifth in both of his grass outings.

Determined Fury is returning from a 13-month vacation, which began after he finished a respectable fourth on the inner turf. His trainer, Donnie MacRae, has solid numbers with six-month-plus layoff runners.

Rounding out the field are Galvaston, Discreet Tune, and Western Trouble.

Post time is 1:05 p.m.

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