Streaking Baker has sharp pair

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Reade Baker, Woodbine's hottest trainer, will send out contenders in both allowance races on Wednesday evening's eight-race card.

Baker entered Artagnan in the seventh race, a first-level allowance for 3-year-olds.

Artagnan was well beaten when he debuted in a Nov. 27 maiden special, and then got the winter off. He relished the sloppy conditions in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden dash in his season opener, scoring by nearly four lengths in a quick clocking, which earned him an impressive Beyer Speed Figure of 88.

Artagnan competes at that same distance on Wednesday, breaking from post 5 in a seven-horse field.

Other possibilities in the seventh race include Pharoh, a debut winner over a muddy track in a five-furlong maiden special April 14, and Little Red Zip, a determined second-out winner last fall, who is returning from a seven-month absence.

Perigee Girl, a Baker-trained daughter of Perigee Moon, will likely be favored in the second, a six-furlong Ontario-sire allowance for fillies and mares who have not won three races lifetime.

Perigee Girl came up a little short in her first start at 2, but then made amends with a nine-length victory in a Sept. 4 maiden special, for which she received a Beyer Figure of 83. She subsequently captured the Victorian Queen Stakes, a six-furlong dash for Ontario-sired fillies.

Perigee Girl was bet down to favoritism going 1 1/16 miles in the Nov. 9 South Ocean Stakes. After stalking the pace, she opened up a clear lead in the stretch before staggering home third.

Perigee Girl then tried tough open company in the seven-furlong Glorious Song Stakes, in which she wound up a troubled seventh behind the likes of Top Notch Lady and Gumboots.

Perigee Girl was a flat fifth in her seasonal debut against allowance opposition. The winner, Gumboots, subsequently captured the Fury Stakes, and the runner-up, Summer Girlfriend, won the Star Shoot Stakes in her next outing.

Perigee Girl adds blinkers Wednesday, an angle with which Baker has had plenty of success.

Jim McAleney will ride both Perigee Girl and Artagnan. McAleney and Baker combined to win Sunday's seventh race with Tothemoonandback, another offspring of Perigee Moon.

Also entered in the second race are Rivers to Sail, Flashy Machine, Loula, and Executive Flight.

Rivers to Sail is returning from a winter layoff following a series of five-furlong workouts. In four starts last year at 3, she notched her debut and a $40,000 conditioned claimer.

* Wednesday's pick-seven carryover is $5,419.