Woodbine: Four sons of Philanthropist square off in Friday turf allownace

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – There are four sons of the good turf sire Philanthropist in Friday’s Woodbine headliner, including Crushin Hard, who is seeking his second straight win in the one-mile turf allowance race for Ontario-sired runners.

Crushin Hard had an encouraging season opener in a one mile and a 70-yard allowance that was moved to the Polytrack on June 14. After awaiting room on the far turn, he closed belatedly to finish third behind a sharp Renegade Man, who subsequently won a tougher Ontario-sired allowance before finishing second in an open allowance.

Crushin Hard defeated Ontario-sired nonwinners-of-two allowance foes traveling 11 furlongs on the grass July 20, when he earned a 75 Beyer Speed Figure. Jermaine Bridgmohan retains the mount on the 4-year-old, who is trained by Ian Black.

Power Phil and Go Wes Go are both 3-year-old Philanthropist geldings trying the grass for the first time.

Power Phil lost the 2012 Kingarvie Stakes by a nose to the talented Pyrite Mountain. Following a winter layoff, he ran third in the Woodstock Stakes, before notching an Ontario-sired allowance route.

Power Phil subsequently ran second as the odds-on favorite in back-to-back nonwinners-of-three allowance races for Ontario-sired stock. Most recently on the dirt at Fort Erie, he led early before fading to fifth in the middle leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, the $500,000 Prince of Wales Stakes.

Eurico Rosa Da Silva will get a leg up on Power Phil from Bob Tiller, the meet’s second-leading trainer.

The dams of both Power Phil and Go Wes Go have each produced two turf winners, from four starters on that surface.

Go Wes Go has improved with each subsequent outing this year for trainer John LeBlanc Jr. He toppled $16,000 maidens in his next-to-last race and then rallied stoutly after walking out of the gate to win a July 13 allowance by a nose over Fighting Chris, who came right back to score at the same class.

David Moran inherits the mount on Go Wes Go from Steven Bahen, who’s sticking with Port Severn.

Port Severn rallied strongly down the center of the course to score at seven furlongs on grass on June 30, from which two horses exited to prevail at the same Ontario-sired maiden special class.

Port Severn is coupled in the Chiefswood Stable entry with Western Tune, who graduated at 1 1/16 miles on the Polytrack in his most recent start.

Mist Opportunity, 5-year-old horse by Philanthropist, has a win and two seconds in 10 turf starts.