Two foes up front, two running late

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Front-runners Angel's Wisdom and Tetherette will try to hold off closers Chivas and Dashing Monty in Friday's wide-open Woodbine feature, a seven-furlong allowance for Ontario-sired runners.

Angel's Wisdom and Tetherette finished second and third in a six-furlong Ontario-sired allowance for nonwinners-of-three on Nov. 18.

Angel's Wisdom was a game second after a dead-rail trip that day, in one of the better performances of his career. He was third and fourth in a pair of $20,000 conditioned claimers in October, but was good enough to win a six-furlong allowance at Fort Erie in July.

Steven Bahen retains the mount on Angel's Wisdom, who is unplaced in three tries at seven furlongs. He is trained by Armand Concessi.

Tetherette, the lone filly or mare in the eight-horse field, has had a productive campaign for trainer Bruce Pollock, hitting the board in 5 of 8 starts for earnings of $79,278.

Tetherette benefited from a speed bias and a slow pace when she prevailed over her own sex in a nonwinners-of-two Ontario-sired allowance on Sept. 10. Most recently, she shook loose on the lead on the turn before giving way grudgingly in the final furlong, finishing just a head behind Angel's Wisdom.

Both of Tetherette's victories have come at seven furlongs under jockey Simon Husbands, who will be aboard Friday.

Chivas earned a solid 84 Beyer Figure when he captured a seven-furlong Ontario-sired allowance over Johnny Magic and future stakes winner Millfleet on Sept. 18. He subsequently finished far up a yielding turf course in the Bunty Lawless Stakes, and is coming off a nonthreatening fourth behind Angel's Wisdom and Tetherette.

Constant Montpellier, who recorded his 1,000th career victory last week, will ride Chivas for trainer Peter Berringer.

Dashing Monty is making his second start off a layoff for high-percentage trainer Paul Nielsen. He overcame traffic problems on the far turn last out to be third going 1 1/16 miles, but could only manage seventh traveling seven furlongs in another Ontario-sired allowance the time before.

Slade Callaghan, who takes over on Dashing Monty, has scored with 4 of his 9 Nielsen-trained mounts at the meeting.

Time of War will try to snap out of a slump in Friday's headliner.

Time of War is winless in seven outings since taking the 2003 Sir Barton Stakes, a restricted event. His best effort this year came in his season opener, when he ran second to Copper Trail in a $50,000 optional claimer.