Tiller doubles up with Yacht Boy, Humber River

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Robert Tiller will take two swings at Saturday’s eighth race at Woodbine when he sends out Yacht Boy and Humber River in the first-level allowance sprint, which has a $32,000 claiming option.

Yacht Boy had a frustrating time during the spring while trying to clear the condition, mounting wide rallies over the inside-favoring Tapeta surface. He filled out the exacta twice in three starts, finishing a lapped-on second most recently while earning a career high 86 Beyer Speed Figure.

Yacht Bay has finished second in all four of his races over the six-furlong distance of Saturday’s engagement. Daisuke Fukumoto will ride the son of Old Forester again for 3 Sons Racing.

A tremendous worker, Humber River was an underachiever this spring in three starts at this level. After ending up a wide third in his April 19 season opener, he finished a flat fourth after awaiting room early in the stretch on May 30. A three-wide trip against the bias led to a fading fifth behind Yacht Boy June 21.

Humber River won two of six outings last year, during which he came up empty on the dirt in the Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie. Jeffrey Alderson has the call on the son of Frac Daddy, who is listed with blinkers off.

Also in the nine-horse field are the hard-knocking veterans Bachelor Pad, Last American Exit, and Perfect Crime.

Bachelor Pad is seeking his 19th win in his 52nd start. When protected by waiver in his May 24 comeback, he led all the way to beat $25,000 claimers with an 81 Beyer. When boosted up to this level most recently, he led along the inside until the eighth pole before fading to fifth behind Yacht Boy. Ryan Munger takes over for trainer David Borsk. The race will be Munger’s first ride on the popular 9-year-old.

Perfect Crime, who has been idle since a win at this level with a claiming tag Nov. 30, is waiver-claiming protected and will have Jalon Samuel aboard. Perfect Crime’s 15 minutes of fame came when he posted a 9-1 upset in the restricted Overskate Stakes on the inner turf in 2024 for trainer Patrick Dixon. The stretch-running 8-year-old figures to need one to help shake off the rust.

Last American Exit was claimed for the third time by trainer Harold Ladouceur June 21, when the 9-year-old overcame an inside bias to beat $25,000 opponents with an 84 Beyer. The only time he has missed the board in his last five outings was when he finished a wide fifth at this level May 30.

Speedy Bear is moving up in class off a game third in a nonwinners-of-three Ontario-sired allowance, but isn’t out of his league from a Beyer perspective.

Gilt Edge is dropping from tougher conditioned allowance/optional-claiming company while retaining leading rider Pietro Moran. Thundermaker and War Strategy complete the lineup.

Post time for the nine-race card is 1 p.m.