Timely Advice will be out front
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Even though he's coming off a subpar performance, the imposing Timely Advice should be the prohibitive favorite in Friday's Woodbine headliner, a first-level allowance going seven furlongs on the Polytrack.
Timely Advice, a son of leading sire A.P. Indy and Grade 3 stakes winner Confessional, is well-regarded by jockey Jim McAleney and trainer Malcolm Pierce, who has taken his time with the huge 3-year-old.
Timely Advice broke slowly before mounting a wide rally for second when he debuted over 6 1/2 furlongs in July. He subsequently won a seven-furlong maiden special on the front end Sept. 4, for which he was awarded an 89 Beyer Speed Figure.
Timely Advice set the pace before fading to third when he was made the 1-2 favorite in a 1 1/16-mile allowance Oct. 4. He has breezed a fast five-eighths twice since then and should be prominent from the outset Friday after breaking from the rail.
D. Flutie, the pacemaker in this year's Queen's Plate, came wide from off a slow pace to graduate in a key seven-furlong maiden special Sept. 26, while earning an 84 Beyer. He was previously in poor turf form and is seemingly at his best when sprinting on the Poly.
D. Flutie is coupled in the Mike Keogh-trained entry with Zarroc, who has been freshened since his third straight dull turf outing Sept. 21.
Emile Ramsammy retains the mount on D. Flutie, and apprentice Mike Mehak will ride Zarroc.
Flashy Yankee chased Timely Advice home twice during the summer and was a belated third in D. Flutie's maiden triumph. Most recently, he earned his diploma with an 81 Beyer after loafing on the lead in the stretch.
Daniel David takes over from the departed Chantal Sutherland on Flashy Yankee, who is trained by John LeBlanc Jr.
Cappal Mor has won three Ontario-sired events this year, including a nonwinners-of-three allowance over seven furlongs Oct. 19. He garnered some black type on the grass when third in the restricted Vice Regent Stakes in August.
Storm Code is returning from a 13-month layoff and figures to flash some speed. Last year at 2, he finished second in the Swynford Stakes and was a fading fifth in the Grade 3 Grey Breeders' Cup Stakes.