Uncle Joe can double up in first race vs. winners

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Queen’s Plate nominee Uncle Joe will be looking to double up off a lucrative maiden score in Thursday’s sixth race at Woodbine, a nonwinners-of-two sprint combining Ontario-sired allowance types with $40,000 claimers.

Uncle Joe wound up second after a challenging trip as the favorite in his April 16 comeback against Ontario-sired maidens over five furlongs. When boosted up to open maiden special company going seven furlongs two weeks later, he led all the way and earned a whopping $73,920.

Trainer Steve Chircop bred Uncle Joe, a son of the popular Souper Speedy.

“When I ran him the five-eighths, I figured it was going to be too short,” Chircop said. “However, he got in so much trouble that day. With a clear trip, he might have been a lot closer.”

Chircop said he wanted to run Uncle Joe long for the first time, but had no options.

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“We tried to run him a mile and a sixteenth at the same condition, but the race didn’t go, so we opted to go back into this race at seven-eighths,” Chircop explained. “His mom was all two turns, for the most part. We’re going to keep him eligible for the Queen’s Plate. It’s in the back of our minds. Some of the horses who beat him are on the Plate radar.”

Chircop said he likes the outside post 7 for Uncle Joe, who breezed a half-mile in a bullet :46.40 on May 22.

“He’s got speed but not uncontrollable speed - he’ll rate kindly,” Chircop said. “He’s had 4 1/2 weeks off, with a superb work in between. I didn’t want him to work that fast - that wasn’t the plan, but he did it on his own and he galloped out really well. I’m hoping that he shows that effort on Thursday. It’s not an easy race by any means.”

Gary Boulanger will ride Uncle Joe, whom Chircop owns in partnership with his uncle, Joe, and father, Godfrey.

Souper Pronto and Poseidon Steel both graduated last out with a 77 Beyer Speed Figure, the highest in this field.

Souper Pronto beat $25,000 maidens traveling five furlongs after dueling for the early lead in his season opener. Expect him to set the pace with Keveh Nicholls retaining the mount.

Poseidon Steel missed the break before closing wide from left field to topple Ontario-sired and $40,000 maidens under Emma-Jayne Wilson in his May 7 debut.

*** There are three grass events on Thursday on the first day of turf racing at the meet.

The fifth and eighth races are a split of a $25,000 maiden claimer for fillies and mares going a mile in lane 1 on the inner turf.

The third is an open $25,000 claimer for distaffers over 6 1/2 furlongs in lane 2 on the main course.