Woodbine: Akron Moon returns in Friday feature after freshening

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Akron Moon has struggled against some quality opposition since her heartbreaking loss in the Alywow Stakes. She returns from a layoff Friday at Woodbine in the featured third race, a first-level allowance scheduled for 6 1/2 furlongs on the grass for fillies and mares.

Akron Moon lost the June 9 Alywow by a nose to a charging Overheard, who captured the Grade 3 Valley View at Keeneland in October. She earned an 80 Beyer Speed Figure in that 6 1/2-furlong turf dash.

Akron Moon was beaten by double-digit lengths in each of her three subsequent outings, two of which were in stakes. She lost an Aug. 18 allowance by 16 lengths to the upwardly mobile Goldstryke Glory, who also dusted her in the Inglorious Stakes.

Akron Moon has been freshened since the Sept. 2 Inglorious by trainer Mark Frostad, who has given the call to a hot Patrick Husbands. She has done her optimum running on the lead, as has Bear’s Pearl.

Bear’s Pearl comes into Friday’s headliner off a fading fifth in an allowance where she was beaten just 1 1/2 lengths. She was previously victorious in a $32,000 claimer on the Polytrack for trainer Mike DePaulo.

Bear’s Pearl is coupled in the Bear Stables entry with the steady Tiny Bear.

Tiny Bear missed the break in her last outing, before she rallied inside for fourth in an allowance sprint on the grass. She hasn’t been worse than fourth in seven starts for trainer Reade Baker, who sent her out to finish a troubled second in the 2012 Presque Isle Debutante.

Emma-Jayne Wilson, who was aboard for Tiny Bear’s maiden victory, has the mount on the Louisiana-bred.

Tequilamockingbird ran two decent races on the grass in the summer, although she was demoted from second to fourth by disqualification in the minor Rainbow Connection Stakes at Fort Erie. The front-runner rode a golden rail in her convincing score over nonwinners-of-three Ontario-sired allowance stock Oct. 19.

Casablanca Kiss is jumping up off a $23,500 claim and a runner-up placing on the Polytrack. She wound up third in two of her four previous turf attempts.

Holyano has failed to make an impact at the first allowance category since she graduated in a romp Aug. 24.

Completing the field is Honolululemon, who defeated Ontario-sired maidens two starts back on the grass. She finished up the track after racing wide when going long on the Polytrack most recently.