Two taking on elders in sprint finale

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Hotshot 3-year-olds Paso Doble and Bare With Me will take on older Ontario-sired opposition Wednesday night at Woodbine in the finale on the eight-race card, a six-furlong allowance for nonwinners of three.

Paso Doble was undefeated in two starts at 2, which included a front-running score in a six-furlong allowance for a big 82 Beyer Speed Figure.

Paso Doble wintered at the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida with trainer Alec Fehr, who sent him out for a third-place finish in a second-level allowance/optional claimer in March at Gulfstream. He ran evenly for fifth after getting bumped at the break when he met older open optional foes here April 4.

Paso Doble has worked five-eighths in 58 seconds and change twice on the Polytrack since his last start.

"He's doing as good as his last two works indicate," said Fehr. "I rushed him a bit getting here, and he bled a little bit in his last race. I scoped him after his last two works, and he was as clean as a whistle. He's feeling good, and he's very sharp. We're in a nice spot with him."

Fehr is taking the blinkers off Paso Doble, while switching riders to Jono Jones.

"I've been working him without blinkers," said Fehr. "Jono worked him both times. He said he's plenty fast enough. He might settle a little better without them."

Bare With Me should be favored off his dazzling 11-length tally in his season opener in an allowance for Ontario-sired 3-year-olds. He led all the way in that five-furlong dash, and earned a whopping Beyer Figure of 94.

Bare With Me must negotiate another furlong in this spot, and will likely regress if he encounters some pace pressure. Eurico Da Silva will get a leg up on him from trainer Ralph Biamonte, a successful combination.

Hubbert's Peak has been second in two straight sprints at this level, which were five months apart. He could have an ideal stalking trip under Chantal Sutherland, but the win-shy 6-year-old is unlikely to get home on top.

Ciano Nights checked in third behind Hubbert's Peak in each of his two most recent outings. He figures to be closing from the back of the pack under Tyler Pizarro, who won Sunday's Fury Stakes aboard Woodsmoke.

Don's Folly has been idle since his triumph in the restricted Simcoe Stakes in September of 2007. He has been working fast for his new trainer, Ian Black.