Top three jocks lock horns, but not in feature
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Around the halfway point of the Woodbine meet, Pietro Moran leads the jockey standings by a 58-52 margin over Fraser Aebly. Rafael Hernandez isn’t far off the pace with 51 wins and he leads all riders in stakes scores with nine.
Surprisingly, none of the top three have a mount in Friday’s nominal feature, a $25,000 conditioned claiming race headed by King Rosso. It is the seventh race on an eight-race card
King Rosso defeated maiden special weight opposition last October when trained by Kevin Attard. His next two races were disappointing, including a fade job at Gulfstream, but after a break, he wired $25,000 nonwinners of two on the Tapeta here May 17.
Trainer Kerron Palmer scooped up King Rosso for $25,000 when the gelding rallied wide for third versus nonwinners-of -three stock going 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf June 13. He never fired most recently during a wide trip against tougher on the Tapeta.
King Rosso shortens up to 7 1/2 furlongs over the inner course with Eswan Flores gaining the mount. Going back 2 1/2 years, Palmer is 1 for 10 second time off a claim.
Accelerando, British Artillery, and Frac Right are other possibilities in the eight-horse field.
The late bloomer Accelerando finally graduated two back in his 12th start over $25,000 maidens. He subsequently doubled up against $25,000 nonwinners-of-two rivals after a lovely stalking trip under Ryan Munger, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him get the hat trick after breaking from post 2. Trainer Bill Tharrenos has a 25 percent strike rate with last-out winners.
British Artillery finished second in a similar spot Oct. 17 before getting the winter off. He showed improvement when third in his second race off the bench on the Tapeta July 12 and could be ready to peak.
Frac Right figures to lead the way, as he did against Ontario-sired rivals and $40,000 nonwinners of three last Friday. He faded in the lane then to end up 6 3/4 lengths back of the victorious favorite Yoshii in fourth. The rail in lane 3 can be beneficial to his forward style.
Moran, Aebly, and Hernandez all have a mount in the fourth, a 7 1/2-furlong inner-turf event for $25,000 maidens.
Hernandez is the go-to rider for trainer Dale Desruisseaux, but he has opted for probable favorite Sanhedrin for trainer Tino Attard, while Moran jumps onto the Desruisseaux-trained Gone Hunting.
Sanhedrin used his tactical speed to finish second in each of his last two starts at this level on the inner course, both under Hernandez. Expect him to take no prisoners on the front end in a field without much other speed.
Gone Hunting has been a minor player against Ontario-sired and $40,000 maidens. The drop in class is significant in his third race off the bench.
Aebly retains the mount on Willy Styles, who was a slow-starting third behind Sanhedrin when debuting July 6. Victorious Accelerando came right back to polish off nonwinners of two with ease.
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