Weller Green back to course of maiden win
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Weller Green doesn’t have much speed to close into in Sunday’s eighth race at Woodbine, but returning to the course over which he graduated could put him over the top in the nonwinners-of-two allowance on the main turf.
Weller Green rallied for second in both his season debut and second start off the sidelines, going long both times on the cramped inner turf. He earned a career best 81 Beyer Speed Figure in the latter race, which was dominated by the classy favorite Ashley’s Archer.
Weller Green’s last outing was taken off the turf and contested over 1 1/4 miles on Tapeta, a surface he abhors. Not surprisingly, he never reached contention and finished a well-beaten last of five at 3-1.
Weller Green earned his diploma over about 1 1/8 miles on the main course last summer, and the 1 1/16-mile distance of Friday’s co-feature should be right up his alley. Austin Adams will ride him again for trainer Catherine Day Phillips and Kingfield Racing Stable.
Completing the eight-race lineup are Catch the Ace, William T, Perfectworks, Lover Boy Mo, Bright Angel, and Deputy Curlin.
With the rail in the occasionally speed-friendly lane 3, Catch the Ace could be dangerous racing up front in his turf debut. The son of good grass sire Astern set an uncontested pace and never looked back when beating Ontario-sired and $40,000 maidens while moving out from a sprint to 1 1/16 miles over the Tapeta on July 26.
Jeffrey Alderson retains the mount on Catch the Ace for trainer Barbara Minshall, who has won at a 7 percent clip with first-time turf runners the past five years.
William T is making his first grass start off three straight runner-up placings in Tapeta sprints. He received an 82 Beyer in each of his last two outings under Fraser Aebly, who will ride him again for trainer Don MacRae. The son of 8 percent turf route sire Frosted doesn’t have much turf breeding.
Perfectworks couldn’t keep up during a wide trip last time out when eighth in an allowance for New York-breds at Saratoga. He was previously fourth here at this level on the inner turf.
Lover Boy Mo saved ground most of the way when fourth behind Ashley’s Archer and Weller Green on July 12. When switching to seven furlongs on the Tapeta most recently, the 4-year-old encountered some traffic en route to ending up fourth with a career high 78 Beyer.
Bright Angel defeated Ontario-sired and $40,0000 maidens going a mile on the inner turf July 6. He trailed a six-horse field early most recently before ending up fifth traveling seven furlongs on the Tapeta.
Deputy Curlin has missed the board in all three of his starts this meet on the Tapeta. The son of Curlin was claimed from his last race for $40,000 by trainer Ted Holder, who is adding blinkers to his equipment. He was a minor player in two of his three turf tries last year.
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