Sinclairity looking to score in debut

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The first Thursday program of the Woodbine meet includes a competitive maiden event that rounds out the eight-race card. Trainer Kevin Attard sends out the debuting Sinclairity in the nightcap, which is a sprint for Ontario-sired maidens and $40,000 claimers.

Owned by Canuck Racing Club, Sinclairity is named after Christine Sinclair, the retired 14-time winner of the Canada Soccer Player of the Year award.

A daughter of popular Ontario sire Souper Speedy, Sinclairity was a $26,000 purchase at the 2022 Canadian premier yearling sale.

“She’s shown a little ability on and off and hasn’t been too consistent,” Attard said. “There’s been some glimpses of talent. Her being Ontario-sired, this is the right place to start.”

The promising young 10-pound apprentice Pietro Moran has the mount on Sinclairity.

“He’s worked her a bunch of times,” Attard said. “I thought her gate work was really good when Pietro was on her. I’ve got a lot of confidence in him. I think he’s going to be a great rider. He’s worked really hard for me the last few years, and I want to give him the opportunity.”

Attard also conditions Woodbine Oaks prospect War Painter for Canuck Racing Club, which is a private ownership group managed by longtime friends Donato Lanni, Mark Halloran, and Rob Van Blokland.

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War Painter took the Victorian Queen Stakes in September and has since endured narrow losses in both the Princess Elizabeth Stakes and in her May 4 season opener in allowance company.

“I think she’s [Oaks] caliber,” Attard said. “I hold her in high regard. The way she was beaten in her last couple of races was a little bit worrisome. I tried blinkers last time hoping that it would change things, but it didn’t.”

Attard had a terrific 2023 with his debuting runners, winning at a 26 percent clip with a positive return on investment.

Among the other first-timers in Thursday’s eighth is Zibibbo, who has worked well for trainer Julia Carey. Off to a good start at the meet, Carey has won at a 7 percent rate at first asking going back five years.

By Mor Spirit, Zibibbo is out of a mare who banked nearly $200,000 and has produced seven winners, including two minor dirt stakes winners at Assiniboia Downs.

Unheard should be a factor in her second start off the sidelines. The daughter of Street Boss finished fourth in a shorter sprint at this level April 28. Trainer Barbara Minshall has decent numbers second time off a layoff.

Blameless Ghost is adding blinkers and Lasix for her second race and first for trainer Mark Casse. The daughter of outstanding synthetic sire Ghostzapper was a non-threatening fourth when debuting last August in a maiden special on the grass at Hawthorne Race Course.

Yousangtome missed the break before racing wide over an inside-biased track when fifth the only time she saw action in a Dec. 2 maiden special.

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