Talk to Ya Later hopes to retain winning form in second off layoff
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The versatile Talk to Ya Later must avoid a bounce when she switches surfaces to turf and shortens up to 6 1/2 furlongs in Saturday’s Woodbine feature, a conditioned allowance with a $50,000 claiming option for fillies and mares.
Trained by Ian Black for Piano Bar Racing, Talk to Ya Later took one of nine starts last year and was competitive in several stakes. Her lone score came in an Ontario-sired allowance sprint on the Tapeta in August, after which she ran third in the Ontario-sired Eternal Search Stakes at 7 1/2 furlongs on the inner turf in October. She completed her campaign Dec. 14 with a fourth-place finish in another Ontario-sired stakes, the 1 1/16-mile La Prevoyante on the Tapeta.
Returning from a five-month layoff May 24, Talk to Ya Later rallied three wide from mid-pack to win a seven-furlong allowance going away by six lengths with an 83 Beyer Speed Figure. Running back three weeks after that strong performance, one of the best of her career, isn’t ideal, although she could regress a little and still make the grade. Ryan Munger will ride the 6-year-old, who won the restricted Algoma Stakes at 3.
Charlottesapproval hasn’t raced since finishing a lapped-on third in a one-mile inner turf route at this level here Oct. 27. She won a 7 1/2-furlong allowance on the inner course in September under Patrick Husbands, who will ride her again for a good layoff trainer in Mark Casse.
Miss Bodacious finished third in consecutive five-furlong, first-level allowances at Gulfstream Park over the winter before getting a break. She has been working regularly at Churchill Downs for trainer Brian Lynch, who once operated a successful stable at Woodbine. The meet’s leading rider, apprentice Pietro Moran, has the mount.
Stakes-placed Zo Lee, based at Turfway Park with trainer Kelsey Danner, shipped here May 17 to finish second in a seven-furlong Tapeta sprint at this level.
Trainer Josie Carroll sends out Dolce Sopresa and Happy Valentine. Both are starting for the first time since last fall.
Dolce Sopresa had her value enhanced when she was promoted from fourth to third by disqualification in the Grade 3 Royal North last June. She prevailed at this class and against lesser allowance stock when going three-quarters on the main course in back-to-back starts here in 2023, earning Beyers in the low 80s.
Happy Valentine found the mark at this level on the Tapeta when competing for a $50,000 tag in October. Her victory from two turf starts came in a 7 1/2-furlong inner turf tilt for non-winners of three last September.
Uphill Dance has struggled since early last summer, when she finished second in the Alywow Stakes and third in the Grade 3 Ontario Colleen.
Silent Sky cleared the first allowance condition on the Tapeta in her May 3 season opener. Her turf record is decent, but this is arguably the toughest field she has ever faced.
Post time for the expanded 11-race card is 1:05 p.m., with the feature carded as the 10th event of the day.
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