Solar tries again at the same level
?q=100)
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Starter/optional claimers have become a staple at Woodbine, giving the little owners and trainers in the game a chance to make some money with a low-end horse over an extended period of time without the worry of losing the horse if protected.
Thursday’s sixth race is for older horses who ran for a claiming price of $7,500 or less in 2022-23, with a $15,000-claiming option. Scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf, it includes Solar, who has been running protected at the level since beating $7,500 claimers on the Tapeta in September.
Solar wound up third after a wide trip near a tepid pace when going long on the inner course Oct. 29. He completed his 2022 campaign in late November by running a close second to the hard-knocking veteran Lapochka.
Off a six-month layoff on May 20, Solar was hard-ridden during a wide trip over an inside-biased Tapeta surface before ending up fifth going 1 1/16 miles. Runner-up C C’s Kingdom came right back to win as the favorite.
Luis Contreras has the mount back on 7-year-old Solar, who is trained by Donnie MacRae for Michael Lay and D-Mac Racing Stable. MacRae has a 21 percent strike rate second time off a layoff, with a low return on investment.
Lion Kingdom could be construed as an inner-turf specialist. He was competitive in two legs of the 2022 Woodbine Turf Endurance Series, after landing a $25,000 conditioned claimer on the inner layout in his season debut.
Lion Kingdom reaffirmed his ability to fire fresh when taking his June 15 season opener in a 7 1/2-furlong inner-turf tilt, a $5,000 starter with a $10,000-claiming option. He competes with the $15,000 tag on Thursday with Omar Moreno aboard for trainer Richard Morden.
Native Prince runs protected after running the race of his life in his second start off the sidelines June 2. After closing three wide from off quick fractions, the homebred won that $7,500 conditioned route on the Tapeta going away by 8 1/4 lengths.
Jose Campos rides Native Prince for trainer John LeBlanc Jr., who sent out longshot Hello Friends to win a $25,000 claimer in dramatic come-from-behind fashion last Friday.
Jack the Cat prevailed in one of four starts at Gulfstream over the winter and is dropping off a troubled seventh here against $25,000 opposition. His trainer, Steve Chircop, had a terrific spring stint here with 10 tallies from 45 starters.
Front-runners Seguimi and Mad Dog N Joe should ensure an honest pace, maybe a suicidal one.
Seguimi is stretching out to an appropriate distance after coming up empty in his seven-furlong seasonal bow.
Mad Dog N Joe wired $15,000 nonwinners-of-three claimers in his third start off the bench over a mile on the inner course.
Completing the sixth-race field are Bet and Coleyville, who retains leading rider Kazushi Kimura off a game second on the main track.
Post time for the seven-race card is 4:50 p.m.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.