Verdejo gets back on Tapeta with a tag

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Verdejo drops to compete for $50,000 on Thursday at Woodbine and should be favored in the featured seventh race, which combines nonwinners-of-two allowance types with $50,000 3-year-old fillies.

Verdejo has won 3 of 5 starts at the meet, beginning with a fast maiden victory going five-eighths in her April 23 season opener. Three weeks after ending up fifth behind the upwardly mobile Loyalty in a May 28 allowance, she beat $40,000 nonwinners-of-two opposition over 5 1/2 furlongs while claimed by trainer Kevin Attard for owners Al and Bill Ulwelling.

Verdejo doubled up in a five-furlong allowance on July 9, scoring comfortably by 3 1/4 lengths with a career-high 80 Beyer Speed Figure. She wasn’t a factor most recently on the grass while protected in a conditioned allowance that had a $50,000 claiming option.

On Thursday, Verdejo goes six furlongs on the Tapeta under regular rider Antonio Gallardo. The daughter of Fed Biz is named after a light-bodied white wine that’s produced almost exclusively in Spain.

Off a successful debut, Tavaline could be the main threat to Verdejo in the six-horse field.

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Despite a sketchy workout pattern, Tavaline was bet down to 3-1 at first asking in a six-furlong maiden special Aug. 28. After breaking alertly, she battled for the lead through fast fractions and drew clear for a 3 1/4-length score with a modest 66 Beyer.

A daughter of champion sprinter Runhappy and stakes-placed Catsadiva, Tavaline is bred to be a late developer and could have plenty of upside. Leading jockey Kazushi Kimura will ride her again for owner Asta Torokvei and trainer Tony Gattellaro.

Silver Bullet Lady might try to go with Tavaline early after breaking from the rail under hot apprentice Slade Jones.

Trained by Andrew Smith, Silver Bullet Lady faded to fifth after dueling for the lead over a track that favored inside speed last time out against nonwinners-of-two foes. The Reload 4-year-old was previously victorious over Ontario-sired and $40,000 maidens after closing from third in a gritty performance.

Inspector Reload, another daughter of Reload, was a non-threatening eighth when returning from an eight-month absence in the Aug. 12 Georgian Bay, a five-furlong inner-turf stakes for Ontario-sired 3-year-old fillies.

Quinte Road would win the race on pedigree. The daughter of elite sire Quality Road is coming off a much-improved fourth in a slow-paced turf sprint at this level. She got a career-high 78 Beyer when earning her diploma in a maiden special on the main turf last October. The Tapeta is seemingly her least favorite local surface.

Rounding out the field is I Have an Idea, who defeated Ontario-sired and $40,000 maidens in her seventh start last out after a lovely inside-stalking trip on the grass. Her Tapeta form isn’t bad.