Twisting Pistons should be able to control pace
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Jockey Ryan Munger is often effective on speed horses, and he looks to have the right stuff in Thursday’s sixth race at Woodbine with need-the-lead type Twisting Pistons.
A 4-year-old trained by Sid Attard for owner Lou Tucci, Twisting Pistons graduated for $25,000 in her second appearance of the year in June. She had to drop way down to $7,500 to clear the nonwinners-of-two condition three starts ago, doing so over a modest group in her second try under Munger.
Twisting Pistons was dismissed at 10-1 in her penultimate race when she moved up to $15,000 non-three company while shortening up from a route to seven furlongs. She was pressed through slow fractions before holding sway to prevail with a 64 Beyer Speed Figure. Third-place finisher Bravo Kate won her next race.
Most recently, Twisting Pistons contested an open $25,000 claiming route. She set a pedestrian pace before losing a nail-biter to current rival Fish Mooney. The 69 Beyer she earned was a career best.
In a six-horse field devoid of other speed on Thursday, Twisting Pistons should take some catching in a 1 1/16-mile starter allowance on the main track.
Fish Mooney won her return from a year layoff in the aforementioned Oct. 23 race, during which she hugged the rail in third before making a three-wide bid in the lane to prevail. The classy 6-year-old was stakes-placed at 2 at Gulfstream Park, which is where her current trainer, Marty Drexler, claimed her for $20,000 early last year.
Fish Mooney is 0 for 13 on turf, over which she struggled here last fall. All six of her wins have come on synthetic surfaces, including a first-level allowance score here two years ago. A hot Fraser Aebly will ride her again for Woodbine’s leading owner, Bruno Schickedanz.
Drexler also sends out Purrfect Girl, who has been a model of consistency since coming here in the spring. She defeated $15,000 maidens in May and $15,000 non-two stock in September, after which Drexler reclaimed her for $7,500.
When bumped way up to meet $25,000 non-three types most recently, Purrfect Girl overcame a tardy start to rally for a head win in a 7 1/2-furlong inner-turf race under Eswan Flores, who retains the mount.
Hay Hay Paula and Looks Lucky to Me ran one-two in a lower starter allowance on Oct. 16. Hay Hay Paula was in poor form when she won that seven-furlong sprint at 19-1 after mounting a four-wide rally from off a fast pace over an anti-speed track.
After getting away slowly, Looks Lucky to Me closed from sixth to finish three-quarters of a length back. She has never run long on Tapeta but has lots of positive experience in two-turn turf events.
Completing the field is Foxy Diva, who checked in third behind Fish Mooney and Twisting Pistons after a three-wide trip Oct. 23.
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