Speed may be advantageous on main turf in pair of maiden races

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The scheduled lane 4 rail placement on the grass Thursday at Woodbine means speed could be dangerous in the fourth and sixth races, which both have large fields of maidens going 6 1/2 furlongs on the main course.

A maiden special for fillies and mares, the sixth race includes the nicely bred second-time starter Maurya. The daughter of 13 percent turf-sprint sire Uncle Mo worked regularly over Turfway Park’s Tapeta before debuting in a 6 1/2-furlong Tapeta tilt here May 26. Sent off at 9-1, she tracked the leaders before fading to fifth. She has since worked a half-mile in a bullet 48.40 seconds.

Maurya is out of a turf winner who has produced four winners from six turf starters, including Grade 1-placed Voting Control. David Moran rides her for trainer Kelsey Danner, who has won at an 11 percent rate with maiden second-time starters over the past five years, with a return on investment of $1.54.

Alliston is another who will be changing surfaces and is by a 13 percent turf-sprint sire. The daughter of Violence is a half-sister to three turf winners, including stakes-placed Western Taffy.

Unraced since December, Alliston finished sixth in both of her Tapeta races last year. The 4-year-old has been working this spring like she’s an improved runner and should be prominent from the outset with Ryan Munger aboard for trainer Rachel Halden.

Hayley’s Honor could lead the way after breaking from the rail under hot turf rider Emma-Jayne Wilson. Hayley’s Honor raced forwardly before holding on for a share in each of her last three grass starts, all going five-eighths in Florida. A recent fade job here on the Tapeta shouldn’t be held against her.

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In Awe will try to dispel the notion that turnbacks on turf are generally ineffective. The Uncle Mo 4-year-old finished second and fourth in a pair of maiden-special routes during the winter at Gulfstream Park before getting a break following a $40,000 claim on March 10. Going back five years, trainer Donnie MacRae has posted excellent numbers off the claim and when going route to sprint on turf.

Irish-bred Vrana is an intriguing dropper from maiden special weight company in the fourth race for Ontario-sired and $40,000 claiming 3-year-old fillies.

Vrana struggled in her two Tapeta excursions in the fall and is adding blinkers and Lasix following a winter vacation. By one of the world’s top turf sires, Lope de Vega, Vrana is the first foal from a stakes-placed grass runner in France.

Saucy Name is another fourth-race entrant with solid turf breeding who could flash some early foot. The daughter of Silent Name has placed in 6 of 7 outings, all sprinting on the local Tapeta.

Go Giffen and Twisted Romance both have been competitive on turf. Go Giffen closed for second over this course and distance in her season opener. Twisted Romance is descending from maiden-special company at Tampa.

Post time for the eight-race program is 4:50 p.m.

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