Ward-trained Six Feet Apart will be singled on many pick four tickets

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Wesley’s Ward Kentucky shippers are usually favored at Woodbine but they have been hit and miss here this spring.

Six Feet Apart is a standout on class in Friday’s featured fourth race, and her tactical speed should come in handy against seven rivals in the 5 1/2-furlong Tapeta sprint.

Six Feet Apart came off the sidelines to beat Florida-breds and $40,000 maidens in her Jan. 23 season opener at Gulfstream Park. She subsequently doubled up there in another short Tapeta sprint, a $40,000 starter allowance, for which she got a solid 81 Beyer Speed Figure.

Six Feet Apart was bet down to 9-2 in an 11-horse allowance at Keeneland on April 22. After tracking the leader in second, she flattened out late but managed to finish a close sixth in the 5 1/2-furlong turf dash while receiving a 74 Beyer.

Six Feet Apart competes with the tag on Friday in the hybrid race for non-winners of three $40,000 claimers and Ontario-sired allowance types. She has worked twice locally this month and Emma-Jayne Wilson will ride her for owner-breeder Mark Breen.

Six Feet Apart is eligible for the first allowance condition, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see her get claimed in the first leg of the pick four, a wager in which she will be a single on numerous tickets.

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Ol’ Blondie, Ima Beast, and Sterling Speed finished second through fourth in a five-furlong sprint at this level on May 6.

Ol’ Blondie came wide from third over an outside-favoring track to finish second with a 76 Beyer. That race came on the heels of a slow score over non-winners-of-two opposition. She could have clear sailing again on Friday after breaking from the outside post under David Moran, who retains the mount for trainer Paul Buttigieg.

Ima Beast ran against the bias May 6, leading the way along the rail before tiring in the final furlong to finish 3 1/4 lengths back. If aggressive tactics are used again by jockey Sahin Civaci, then she could end up in a speed duel with Bid Once.

Sterling Speed has the look of a live longshot. She was third behind the future Star Shoot Stakes winner Beautiful Empire in her season debut, and was beaten 4 1/2 lengths on May 6 after running against the bias following a slow start from post 2.

◗ Trainer Kevin Attard saddles Strega and Silver Magnatized in Friday’s third, a non-winners-of two-route for 3-year-old fillies that combines Ontario-sired allowance types with $40,000 claimers.

Strega was a gate-to-wire winner over non-winners of two rivals the last time she saw action here Nov. 20.

Silver Magnatized is going long for the first time with the pedigree of a router. She’s dropping out of an open allowance to compete with the $40,000 tag.