Woodbine: Bug's Boy sharpens up for Overskate

Bug’s Boy, an 8-year-old gelding who became a stakes winner in his 42nd career start here Sept 5, breezed five furlongs in a bullet 59 seconds under jockey Omar Moreno here Wednesday morning.

“He kind of had a good hold of him the first part,” said John LeBlanc, who trains Bug’s Boy for his wife, Maggie, and son, Douglas. “Bug’s Boy was eager to do something.

“As long as he comes out of it all right, we plan to go to the Overskate.”

The $125,000 Overskate, a seven-furlong race for Ontario-sired 3-year-olds and upward, will be run here Wednesday evening.

“I just think the timing has worked out well,” said LeBlanc. “The Bunty Lawless, obviously, is our main focus and this race fits right in between.

“With the right trip, we have a good shot to get a piece of it and who knows, maybe he could surprise us all again.”

Bug’s Boy was 70-1 when he won the Sept. 5. Halton, a one-mile turf stakes for horses who went through a local yearling sale.

The $125,000 Bunty Lawless, a one-mile turf race for Ontario-sired 3-year-olds and upward, will be run here Oct. 22.

Niigon’s Touch on target for Classy ‘N Smart

Niigon’s Touch, who recorded her first stakes victory in the 1 1/16-mile Eternal Search here Aug.20, breezed back for the first time here Wednesday, going an easy five furlongs in 1:03.20 under regular rider Tyler Pizarro.

“I sent her after the farm after her last race, to freshen her up,” said Paul Attard, who conditions the homebred for Chiefswood Stable.

Niigon’s Touch is scheduled to make her next start in the Classy ‘N Smart, a 1 1/16 mile race for Ontario-sired fillies and mares here Oct. 5.

The Eternal Search was for Ontario-sired 3-year-old fillies.

Crist scheduled for two appearances

Steven Crist, chairman and publisher of Daily Racing Form , will be at Woodbine on Saturday to host a one-hour handicapping seminar beginning at 11 a.m. on the third floor of the grandstand.

On Sunday, Crist will be at the Greenwood teletheatre in east end Toronto for a handicapping seminar beginning at 11:30 a.m.

Attendees at both sessions will receive a free copy of Crist’s exotic tickets DVD.

Crist will be staying on to host a handicapping challenge at Greenwood which will offer total prize money of up to $22,500 and a chance to win a seat in the $2 million National Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas this winter.

Details are available at WoodbineEntertainment.com/HandicappingSeries.