Still hope for 0-for-13 maiden

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - DoBold Ruler, probably Woodbine's best known longtime maiden, will be strongly backed in Wednesday's fourth race, a 1 1/16-mile race for Ontario-sired maidens.

D Bold Ruler, 0 for 13 lifetime, ran a remarkable race in the restricted Kingarvie Stakes last Dec. 2. He got away very slowly before rallying extremely wide to finish a nose behind victorious Dancer's Bajan, who has evolved into one of Woodbine's top sprinters.

D Bold Ruler's sluggish starts have continued this year. He broke tardily in each of his first seven appearances at the meeting, and his form began to deteriorate until trainer Laurie Silvera had him gelded in the summer.

D Bold Ruler has improved with each subsequent outing. Most recently, he seemed headed for his that elusive first win after making the lead at the eighth pole, but he hung in deep stretch and was beaten a neck.

D Bold Ruler's new rider, Emma Wilson, is 1 for 10 at the meet aboard Silvera runners.

Power of Attorney peaked in his narrow loss in a seven-furlong maiden special July 15. He wound up fourth in three of his last four outings, and seemingly moved too soon most recently when going 1 1/16 miles, a race in which a slow pace hindered his chances.

Apprentice Dean Deverell picks up the mount on Power of Attorney, a homebred owned and trained by Henry Palecki.

El Gran Jake chased D Bold Ruler home while running well in each of his last two starts. He was favored in three of his four most recent races, all under Wilson, but David Clark gets the call on Wednesday.

Thirdkin earned his keep on the grass in July, but has struggled since then. He shook loose on the lead before fading to fifth in his latest, in a 1 1/4-mile race that was taken off the grass.

Full of Wisdom checked in third in two of his last three races, while improving his Beyer Speed Figures. He was just 1 1/2 lengths behind D Bold Ruler after a good stalking trip Oct. 7.

Sun After Noon is adding blinkers off a fifth-place finish in a grass sprint. He is lightly raced, and may have room for improvement.

The pick seven carryover is $7,928.