War Strategy's balmy winter could provide an edge
?q=100)
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Among all the comebackers in Sunday’s featured fifth race, War Strategy has been off the longest. But he may have the best chance in the five-furlong dash because he wintered in Florida, unlike the others.
Sent out by perennial leading Woodbine trainer Mark Casse, War Strategy had an abbreviated three-race campaign in 2025, during which he ran competitively against some formidable opposition. The front-runner weakened late to finish third behind Twin City and Poulin in O T in his May 22 season opener. A month later in another conditioned allowance, he was beaten at the wire by Simcoe, who went on to win back-to-back Grade 3 stakes and is the leading candidate for 2025 Canadian champion male sprinter honors.
War Strategy was softened up in a speed duel most recently Aug. 16 when stretching out to a mile in the Grade 2 King Edward on the main turf. The 7-year-old worked thrice at the Ocala Training Center during the winter before returning to Woodbine in March, where he worked quickly before posting an easy half-mile breeze on April 10.
Carrying a $32,000 claiming tag, War Strategy will be ridden by last year’s Eclipse Award-winning apprentice Pietro Moran, who has fared well this year at Gulfstream and Keeneland as a journeyman.
Successful layoff trainer Robert Tiller sends out Yacht Boy and Humber River in the five-horse headliner on a sparse seven-race card.
Yacht Boy prevailed in a nonwinners-of-three Ontario-sired allowance in his third start of 2025 in September. The 5-year-old took his game to another level when stepping up to this class on Nov. 23. After awaiting room on the outside on the turn over an inside-favoring track, he rallied wide for a nose loss while receiving a career-high 86 Beyer Speed Figure.
Humber River completed his 2025 season on a high note when turning back from a route to seven furlongs on Oct. 19. Benefiting from an inside bias, he came from fourth to win going away with a career-best 84 Beyer. The lone terrible performance of his career came on dirt in the 2025 Prince of Wales Stakes.
Jeffrey Alderson inherits the mount on Humber River from Daisuke Fukumoto, who is sticking with Yacht Boy.
Indy One is protected by waiver in his first outing since he landed an Oct. 31 starter allowance, for which he earned a career-best 87 Beyer. He was claimed then by trainer Sylvain Pion, who won at a 10 percent rate with 61- to 180-day layoff types going back five years, with a positive return on investment.
Magic Power completed his 2025 campaign with three straight second-place finishes in a trio of nonwinners-of-three claiming races. He benefited from a strong rail bias the last time he saw action Dec. 14 and is sent out by trainer John Mattine, who has low numbers with layoff runners.
Post time is 1:20 p.m.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.