Woodbine: Dubai Calling sharp for sprint

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Dubai Calling, one of the most improved runners at Woodbine this year, should have an ideal setup in Friday’s eighth race, a first-level allowance sprint for fillies and mares.

Dubai Calling crossed the wire on top in four straight races, after being acquired by trainer Ross Armata in the spring. Her streak began June 16, when she polished off $12,500 nonwinners-of-two opposition.

Dubai Calling also won her next start convincingly, before being disqualified for interference. She subsequently beat nonwinners-of-three stock in a $40,000 claimer on the grass and then struck again from off the pace in an open $32,000 contest on the Polytrack.

Most recently in an allowance on turf, Dubai Calling stalked the leaders on the outside en route to running second behind Sweet Starlet, who was winning for the third straight time. She earned a career-high 78 Beyer Speed Figure in that six-furlong dash.

Justin Stein retains the mount on Dubai Calling, a daughter of underrated sire E Dubai.

Among all the front-runners in the six-furlong feature, Gentle Angel might be the most effective.

Gentle Angel, trained by Brian Lynch, defeated $40,000 nonwinners-of-three types in her next-to-last outing on the Polytrack. She was allowed to set a slow pace last time, in a six-furlong allowance on the grass, before ending up second behind the stalking More Miss Crissy.

Sebastian Madrid inherits the mount on Gentle Angel from Luis Contreras, who’s at Churchill Downs for the Breeders’ Cup.

Cabriole also has improved significantly throughout the course of the meet, since she was claimed for a bargain $12,500 in June by trainer Mike DePaulo.

Cabriole romped in a $16,000 event in mid-August and then won her next start against $32,000 foes by three lengths. On Oct. 9, she made an early move on the turn en route to finishing second in a $50,000 claimer. The winner, Rock the Moon, returned to win a slow allowance.

Stormy Allure should be winging it up front, after breaking from the rail. She weakened on her left lead in the stretch when third behind Sweet Starlet and Dubai Calling in her first turf try Oct. 10.

Speightstown Lady has had a break since registering her third straight double-digit loss Sept. 10. The rapid 3-year-old held on for second behind New Normal in the June 5 Alywow Stakes.

Saucy Song won two straight $40,000 conditioned claimers, after being haltered for $40,000 in August.