Town Cruise could find his sweet spot in cutback
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario – A host of stakes winners will run in Saturday’s featured conditioned allowance/optional claimer at Woodbine, including Town Cruise, Luckman, Roaring Forties, and The Minkster.
An 8-year-old owned and trained by Brandon Greer, Town Cruise was a memorable winner of the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile in 2021. He was pounded down to 8-1 late in the betting and promptly led all the way to prevail by 2 1/4 lengths with a 104 Beyer Speed Figure.
Town Cruise went winless in his next six outings before landing a conditioned allowance/$50,000 optional claimer two starts ago on the inner turf. He finished a fading sixth most recently in the Grade 3 Singspiel going 1 1/4 miles, a distance which has been his Achilles heel.
Town Cruise cuts back to 7 1/2 furlongs on the inner course Saturday. Keveh Nicholls will break him from post 10, with the rail in lane 2.
Luckman was victorious in the one-mile Toronto Cup Stakes for 3-year-olds on the main turf last September. The closer got drilled in his next four races before winning at this level in his last appearance on June 18, earning a career-high 89 Beyer.
Daisuke Fukumoto, who rode Town Cruise to victory in the Woodbine Mile, will pilot Luckman for trainer Vito Armata.
Roaring Forties took the 1 1/16-mile Sunshine Millions Turf in gate-to-wire style at Gulfstream Park in January for trainer Katerina Vassilieva. The durable veteran, who has done the bulk of his damage sprinting, is coming off a victory in a 6 1/2-furlong main turf tilt at this level.
Vassilieva also sends out The Minkster, who won last year’s Queenston Stakes before going on the Queen’s Plate trail. The son of English Channel is dropping off a fifth behind War Bomber and Treason in the Grade 2 King Edward and could wake up in his third start off the sidelines with blinkers on.
Mason’s Gamble is the lone entrant in the body of the race who competes with the $80,000 claiming tag. The 5-year-old is exiting a wide third behind Roaring Forties and is seeking his first win since taking the restricted Ontario Jockey Club Stakes in June of last year.
Dun Drum is turning back off a fading fourth in the Singspiel. The 7-year-old was previously second behind a peaking Malibu Mambo in a 1 1/4-mile main turf event at this class level.
Malibu Edge should be forwardly placed after breaking from the rail under Patrick Husbands. He had a four-wide trip in mid-pack before finishing a clear second against easier on the Tapeta in his latest.
Rounding out the ninth-race field are Told It All, Banff, Avoman, and Clear Destination. The two also-eligibles are Artie and Journeyman.
Post time for the 10-race card is 1:15 p.m.
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