Third time the charm for Afleet Doll?

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The weekend Woodbine cards, most notably the Woodbine Mile program Saturday, are loaded, which has left Friday’s nine-race card without a turf or allowance event.

There are some promising 2-year-old fillies in the fifth race, a maiden special weight sprint, including third-time starter Afleet Doll. She was a close second going five furlongs in her debut behind Just Be Kind, who subsequently captured the Ontario Debutante Stakes with a 75 Beyer Speed Figure.

With blinkers on, Afleet Doll was bet down to 7-5 in another five-furlong maiden special most recently Sept. 3. After racing in third on the turn, she made up some ground to finish second behind a sharp Keep Your Head Up.

On Friday, trainer Mike Wright is taking the blinkers off Afleet Doll, which could be to her benefit as she lengthens out to six furlongs.

KEY CONTENDERS

Afleet Doll, by Afleet Alex

Beyers: 50-68

◗ Woodbine’s hottest rider, Rafael Hernandez, picks up the mount. He has a win and three seconds when teaming up with Wright.

Lovemelikeyoudo, by Harlan’s Holiday

◗ The first-time starter is by a deceased sire who has gotten a good 14 percent 2-year-old debut winners. The stakes-winning dam hasn’t produced anything of note.

DRF Formulator fact: During the past five years, trainer Mark Casse has a 21 percent success rate with 2-year-old maiden special debuters on synthetics, with a return on investment of $1.60.

Malibu Bliss, by Malibu Moon

Beyers: 40-27

◗ This Casse trainee was beaten in double digits in both of her outings, but her last race, which came on the grass at Saratoga, contained three next-out winners. Her Sunday work here on the Tapeta, five-eighths in 59.80 seconds, was among the quickest of the day.

Maritimeconnection, by Lookin At Lucky

◗ Her sire has yielded 14 percent first-out juvenile winners, and the stakes-winning dam dropped Grade 2 stakes winner Passion for Action and stakes-placed Maritime Pulpit.

Lemon Zip, by Ghostzapper

Beyer: 45

◗ After missing the break, she mounted a belated wide bid to finish a distant third at first asking in a six-furlong maiden special Aug. 13. Victorious Ghostly Presence returned to finish fifth in the Ontario Debutante.

Leighlin Road, by Midnight Lute

Beyer: 46

◗ She raced wide throughout, closing from sixth to end up third in her only start, which came in a six-furlong contest for $50,000 maidens.

Matching Vows, by Broken Vow

◗ Her sire has gotten 10 percent 2-year-old debut winners, and her dam dropped the versatile stakes winner Double Malt.