Weekend in Malibu peaking for sprint feature
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – It’s taken a while for Weekend in Malibu to come around this year, but the 3-year-old appears to be peaking in time for Friday’s Woodbine feature, a first-level allowance sprint for fillies and mares. Weekend in Malibu looked to be a potential stakes performer last fall after romping in her second and third starts against Ontario-sired maiden and allowance opposition. Following a winter break, however, she could only manage a sixth May 31 in the Lady Angela Stakes and then finished second as the favorite against Ontario-sired allowance types.
Weekend in Malibu was freshened after a flat turf experiment July 22. Following the layoff, she rallied for second behind Blurricane on Sept. 7 and then got the job done against non-winners-of-three stock Sept. 27, when she came from fourth to prevail with ease over Sweet Brew.
The headliner is the seventh on a nine-race card that also includes three turf events with large fields.
KEY CONTENDERS
Weekend in Malibu (Last 3 Beyers: 69-61-64)
◗ Patrick Husbands retains the mount on the daughter of Old Forester for trainer Catherine Day Phillips, who’s had a sensational meet, winning at a 31 percent clip.
◗ The base purse is $58,600, but she goes for $93,700 because she’s an Ontario-sired and Ontario-bred runner competing in open company.
Toomanyconquerors (Beyers: 63-66)
◗ Steve Bahen should get danger pay for riding this temperamental daughter of Sky Conqueror. She dumped him behind the gate prior to her victory in an Ontario-sired allowance Aug. 30, during which she put away two rivals on the lead before holding sway.
District Attorney (Last 3 Beyers: 75-63-71)
◗ She was a bit player at this level last fall and is exiting a career-best performance, a come-from-behind score over $40,000 non-winners of three for which she earned a career-high 75 Beyer Speed Figure.
◗ Trainer Troy Wismer has enjoyed a solid meet, posting a 29 percent strike rate with 21 starts.
Marcian (Last 3 Beyers: 82-69-69)
◗ The durable 6-year-old has had a little break since capturing a fast $20,000 claimer Sept. 5, from which the fourth- and eighth-place horses both exited to score in the lower ranks.
◗ Leading rider Eurico Da Silva will guide her again, and she appears to be in fine fettle after working a bullet half-mile on the training track Oct. 15.
Enoree (Last 3 Beyers: 73-72-77)
◗ She was in decent grass form before ending up second in a recent allowance on the dirt at Keeneland. Luis Contreras picks up the mount and is 3 for 4 at the meet for this barn.