Success weighs heavily on Estrada's Girl

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Under 128 pounds, the venerable 7-year-old Estrada’s Girl is carrying the grandstand, old-timers would say, in the Friday opener at Woodbine, a $25,000 starter allowance for fillies and mares.

Estrada’s Girl won 5 of 13 starts in 2015, including a victory carrying 124 pounds in a $25,000 starter on the grass at Laurel. After ending up fifth in a lucrative Claiming Crown dirt sprint in December at Gulfstream, she captured a $25,000 claimer at Laurel on Jan. 9, from which she was claimed.

While returning from a layoff in a five-furlong optional claimer here April 22, Estrada’s Girl raised some eyebrows when she missed the break and still closed from sixth to be third over a speed-favoring surface. A hot Alan Garcia retains the mount on Estrada’s Girl, who has some speed to chase in the first race, the lone non-claiming event on the nine-race card.

KEY CONTENDERS

Estrada’s Girl, by Golden Missile

Last 3 Beyers: 78-64-68

◗ The base weight for older runners in this starter race is 116 pounds. Participants must tote an additional two pounds for each win in 2015-16, hence the 128-pound assignment for this six-time winner during that time.

◗ Trainer Donnie MacRae possesses an impressive 30 percent strike rate the second time off the claim over the past five years, according to DRF Formulator.

Kentuckiana, by Stormy Atlantic

Last 3 Beyers: 67-58-39

◗ The 5-year-old rallied wide for third when she came off the sidelines against males April 22, so it wasn’t surprising to see her beat her own sex in a $40,000 conditioned claimer most recently.

◗ Patrick Husbands inherits the mount from Luis Contreras, who’s sticking with Glorious Moment.

Glorious Moment, by Midnight Lute

Last 3 Beyers: 64-64-62

◗ She has been idle since Nov. 29, when she defeated $25,000 claimers after a good stalking trip. Her work tab this spring is encouraging, and she could garner some of the pieces, at the very least.

Last Minute Lucy, by Giant Gizmo

Last 3 Beyers: 74-50-44

◗ She got the winter off after a disappointing two-race fall campaign and rode a speed bias during a daylight score in her seasonal debut against $16,000 stock.

◗ Expect her to link up on the lead with Probably, a battle she should be able to win.

Blurricane, by Rebellion

Last 3 Beyers: 67-73-66

◗ She hasn’t started since getting claimed from a nose victory over $25,000 opposition Nov. 11. That seven-furlong contest contained two next-out winners.

◗ She ran well off a layoff twice last year, but five furlongs is shorter than her optimal distance.