Trainer shows confidence in 'Cocktail'

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Handicappers should always take notice when a top trainer confidently raises a horse up in value, while bypassing an easier spot.

Such is the case with Dynamite Cocktail in Thursday's eighth race at Woodbine, an entry-level allowance for fillies and mares.

Dynamite Cocktail was dropped into a $40,000 claimer for nonwinners-of-two going a mile on the grass July 1 and prevailed with ease while receiving a career-high Beyer Figure of 83. Trainer Sid Attard could have run her back in a $40,000 nonwinners-of-three on the lawn next week, but has opted to protect her in Thursday's race, which will be run at 1 1/8 miles on the grass.

After beating $50,000 maidens last summer, Dynamite Cocktail hit the board several times at the first allowance level, including a second-place finish to the upwardly mobile Classic Stamp in September.

Todd Kabel, Woodbine's leading rider, retains the mount on Dynamite Cocktail, a 4-year-old daughter of Dynaformer.

Nomistakeaboutit, Green Briar Rose, and Glory Royale also merit consideration in Thursday's feature.

Nomistakeaboutit got an 80 Beyer when she triumphed in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special on the sod June 6. She was recently fourth after experiencing traffic problems in a 1 1/4-mile allowance.

Green Briar Rose ran well over this course last summer before graduating at Fair Grounds in December. She finished on the edges in both of her allowance engagements here in June and posted a bullet half-mile work in 46.60 seconds over the turf training course on Sunday.

Late-running Glory Royale never fired in her first two outings of the meeting. In a 1 1/4-mile race on June 26, she lacked running room but finished third, defeating Nomistakeaboutit and Green Briar Rose.

Danish Fairytale is shortening up in distance for her third start of the season and could be the pacemaker in the eight-horse field.

* Knightly Ease fits nicely in Thursday's supporting feature, a seven-furlong, Ontario-sired allowance for nonwinners-of-three.

Knightly Ease won his first two starts this year, in Ontario-sired maiden and allowance company, earning a 90-plus Beyer on both occasions. He faced open preliminary allowance opposition most recently, on June 27, and finished second after dueling through quick fractions.

Knightly Ease gets some significant class relief Thursday in his first attempt on the grass. A son of successful turf sire Ascot Knight, Knightly Ease should be well backed as Frank Todd Jr. rides for trainer Greg Cox.