Two to Tango will face just four in route feature
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Two to Tango seems poised to win her third race in the featured second-level optional claimer at Woodbine on Friday, when she will line up against just four other fillies and mares traveling 1 1/16 miles on the grass.
Two to Tango has started twice at this optional-claiming level on the grass at the meet. After a seven-month layoff May 24, she finished third behind the talented European invader Uchenna going a mile. Most recently over about 1 1/8 miles, Two to Tango missed the break, as she often does, before attending a slow pace en route to a head loss to Copper Kitten, who subsequently finished a close fifth in the Grade 2 Dance Smartly Stakes.
Alan Garcia retains the mount on Two to Tango, a daughter of leading sire Tapit owned by Jim and Susan Hill.
There are two other turf events on Friday’s nine-race card, including a wide-open $50,000 maiden-claiming sprint that lured 13 runners in the seventh.
KEY CONTENDERS
Two to Tango (Last 3 Beyers: 82-79-77)
◗ Her high-profile trainer, Brian Lynch, recently made some noise when he captured the Queen’s Plate with Shaman Ghost, who is headed for the Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie. Lynch said Monday that Shaman Ghost probably won’t compete in the final leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, the Breeders’ Stakes on the grass here Aug. 16.
Finn’s Jewel (Last 3 Beyers: 77-80-76)
◗ The blue-blooded daughter of Giant’s Causeway cleared the first allowance condition at Gulfstream in February before failing to challenge in a second-level allowance at Keeneland.
◗ She defeated Two to Tango when second May 24 but could only manage fourth as the favorite June 20 after racing in tight along the rail in midstretch.
◗ Leading rider Eurico Da Silva will guide her again for Sam-Son Farm and trainer Malcolm Pierce. Da Silva and Pierce are 6 for 20 at the meet together.
Lynnessa (Last 3 Beyers: 78-59-67)
◗ The attractive 6-year-old comes off her best performance in some time, a closing third behind Copper Kitten and Two to Tango. She might be using this as a prep for the $125,000 Victoriana, an Ontario-sired stakes.
Chedington (Last 3 Beyers: 73-66-65)
◗ She scored twice in seven outings last year. She made up a little ground when fifth behind two of her current rivals May 24 in her only start this year, from which Miss Tatey Cat and Hidden Turn both exited to beat $32,000 claimers.