Top two take class drop in feature

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Green Line and Riva's Tribute will both get some class relief in Wednesday's Woodbine feature, a $62,500 allowance/optional claimer at 6 1/2 furlongs on the grass.

Green Line, a classy 6-year-old sent out by trainer Reade Baker, managed to finish fourth behind Redattore and Irish Warrior in the Grade 2 Citation Handicap at Hollywood in 2003. His last win came 18 starts ago, however, in a 7 1/2-furlong handicap in May 2003 in his native England.

Green Line has run two solid races against $80,000 opposition here this summer, since returning from an extended layoff. He made a midstretch bid before hanging when he finished fourth coming off the sidelines on July 23, and he was blocked in the stretch before closing for third going a mile on Aug. 13.

Jim McAleney retains the mount on Green Line, who has worked five furlongs in the day's best time twice on the dirt here this month.

Riva's Tribute was a troubled fourth in his first outing of the year in June. He subsequently ran sixth in another $62,500 event, then finished third behind Awesome Action and the reigning Canadian Horse of the Year, Soaring Free, in the seven-furlong Ontario Jockey Club Stakes.

Riva's Tribute was scratched from a race last month because it was taken off the grass. Apprentice Emma Wilson, Woodbine's leading rider, will get a leg up from trainer John Leblanc Jr., a combination that is 2 for 9 at the meeting.

Other possibilities in Wednesday's feature are Langfleur, Sir Blitz, and Slew's Saga.

Langfleur, a son of Langfuhr trained by Mike Keogh, is returning from a one-year sabbatical. He won two six-furlong races over yielding ground here last year under Patrick Husbands, and also ran fifth in the OJC Stakes.

Langfleur drilled five-eighths in a bullet 58.60 seconds over the turf training course Sept. 4.

Sir Blitz notched his two most recent starts, both by a head against $50,000 claimers, just five days apart. He was rank in the first one, yet came on to win at a mile, and then doubled up going 6 1/2 furlongs, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 90 in the process.

Sir Blitz returns from a six-week break on Wednesday, with Constant Montpellier riding for trainer Danny Vella.

Slew's Saga, one of two 3-year-olds in the body of the race, has struggled this year, finishing far back in each of his three outings in stakes. He won last year's restricted Cup and Saucer Stakes in a romp.