Whiskey N Ice looks to validate last-out romp

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Whiskey N Ice will try to prove that her dominant comeback score wasn’t a fluke when she takes her talents to the inner turf in Thursday’s fifth race at Woodbine, a $25,000 claimer for nonwinners-of-two females going five furlongs.

Trainer Danny Yu claimed Whiskey N Ice when the daughter of Old Forester took a sizable drop from Ontario-sired/$40,000 company to $10,000 on Nov. 22. Sent off at 4-5, she went straight to the lead and never looked back in a 4 1/2-length tally, only to be disqualified to eighth for interference on the turn, the result of which was a dramatic five-horse spill.

Whiskey N Ice returned from a five-month layoff on opening day April 26, when she was protected by waiver in a five-furlong dash. Bet down to 1-5, the 4-year-old set a lively pace over a track that favored speed and inside runners before drawing off to prevail by 12 3/4 lengths with a big 76 Beyer Speed Figure.

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Whiskey N Ice ran twice on the main turf last year when trained by Sid Attard, the best of which was a front-running third going six furlongs. She’s drawn outside the other speed in post 5, and it will be interesting to see if she’s able to clear the field early under Leo Salles.

The Blue Unicorn is protected by wavier in her second start after winning her only race on the Tapeta against $25,000 maidens on Nov. 21. The now 3-year-old was herded in at the break then before tracking the leader en route to a daylight score, for which she got a 53 Beyer.

The Blue Unicorn is by the late Improbable, who has sired a good 14 percent winners in turf sprints from a small sample. Her stakes-placed dam hated the grass, but two of her six turf starters were victorious.

Fraser Aebly retains the mount on The Blue Unicorn for trainer Darwin Banach, a successful duo. She could sit a lovely trip near all the speed before making a bid.

Saucy Name was among Woodbine’s most notorious professional maidens before earning her diploma in her 15th start following a winter layoff on the Tapeta on May 18. The 4-year-old made the board in all three of her turf starts and should be forwardly placed under apprentice Pietro Moran, who will get a leg up from trainer Kevin Attard.

Pretty Good Joke might be as fast or faster than Whiskey N Ice. She wired $25,000 maidens in her final 2024 outing and was protected by wavier when a sagging sixth after setting a rapid pace in her season opener. The 5-year-old finished fourth and fifth in her two turf assignments on the main course last year. A hot Eswan Flores will ride her again for owner-trainer Nick Nosowenko.

Rounding out the fifth-race field are Zipfire, Really Thirsty, and Kitty’sspeedystarr.

Post time for the seven-race card is 3 p.m.

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