Silent Star, Strut the Course meet again in Friday turf route

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Silent Star and Strut the Course will renew their new rivalry Friday at Woodbine in the featured third race, a second-level optional claimer for fillies and mares scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on grass.

Silent Star won her first stakes against Ontario-sired opposition in the July 30 Victoriana under a patient ride from Justin Stein. She closed wide from midpack in the fast-paced turf route and outfinished Strut the Course in the final furlong to prevail by a neck over a course labeled “good.”

“The horses to the inside went and commanded the pace, which gave me an opportunity to tuck in behind them,” Stein said. “When she’s in behind horses, she really relaxes and just wants to gallop along until she’s asked to run.”

The Barb Minshall-trained Strut the Course finished second over yielding ground in her only other grass outing, in the 2013 La Prevoyante Stakes at a mile. It took her a while to get back on track this year after suffering an injury that sidelined her last fall. She finished seventh following an eight-month absence in the six-furlong Ballade Stakes on May 3 and then checked in fourth in a May 24 allowance route. On July 4, she won a 1 1/16-mile allowance for Ontario-sired stock with a career-high 85 Beyer Speed Figure.

“The first race was too short, and I don’t think I had her quite tight enough for the second one,” Minshall said. “She came back a little tired. Next time around, I had her a little tighter, and she ran a good race.”

KEY CONTENDERS

Silent Star (Last 3 Beyers: 77-76-76)

◗ Trainer Dave Bell has worked Silent Star five furlongs twice over the turf training course this month, undoubtedly with this race in mind. She can handle Polytrack as well, so a surface change shouldn’t pose a problem.

Strut the Course (Last 3 Beyers: 76-85-74)

◗ She has yet to compete over firm turf, which was the way her accomplished sire, Strut the Stage, liked it. Upgrade her chances if the ground is firm.

Paradise Alley (Last 3 Beyers: 74-71-51)

◗ The probable pacesetter has been idle since beating 3-year-old fillies in a first-level optional-claiming event June 14 but has worked extensively for trainer Josie Carroll.

◗ She was only an early factor while debuting in a turf sprint last summer at Belmont but deserves another chance on the lawn because her dam, Sealy Hill, finished second in both the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf and the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor.