Woodbine: Galan's Wings seeks to remain unbeaten in allowance sprint feature

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Galan’s Wings will try to keep her unbeaten record intact in Thursday’s second race at Woodbine, a six-furlong allowance for 2-year-old fillies, in which her tactical speed could come in handy.

Galan’s Wings, trained by Roger Attfield for Harlequin Ranches, annihilated a field of $20,000 maidens in her first start Sept. 4. She shrugged off an early challenger for the lead in that six-furlong sprint, and then widened her lead throughout the stretch to score by nearly seven lengths, with a Beyer Speed Figure of 55.

Three weeks later in a $50,000 claimer, Galan’s Wings prevailed by 5 1/2 lengths after a five-wide stalking trip. Her six-furlong time of 1:10.92 translated into a 73 Beyer. She has since breezed a half-mile in a bullet 46.80 seconds.

Patrick Husbands inherits the mount on Galan’s Wings from Eurico Da Silva, who is through for the year after sustaining a leg injury in a spill last Saturday.

Runfor Ro notched her debut in May by disqualification. She went on to finish second to Tu Endie Wei in the My Dear Stakes, and was also third behind that talented filly in the Ontario Debutante Stakes.

Runfor Ro finished well back last time in the ultra-tough Natalma, a Grade 3 turf stakes. The third horse, Stephanie’s Kitten, returned to win the Grade 1 Alcibiades at Keeneland, and fifth-place finisher Hard Not to Like subsequently beat the boys in the restricted Cup and Saucer Stakes.

Jesse Campbell will ride Runfor Ro, who was a $40,000 2-year-old purchase by Raroma Stable.

“She was purchased for one specific reason,” said trainer Greg De Gannes. “She was born on the same day as the owner’s son. It’s the first horse that he’s ever owned.”

Casablanca Kiss was claimed for a hefty $62,500 by trainer Sid Attard when she lost her Sept. 16 debut by a neck to She’s Got Tube, who’s also in this six-horse field.

Casablanca Kiss defeated maiden special opposition first-time off the claim Oct. 2, earning a 69 Beyer in the 5 1/2-furlong dash.

She’s Got Tube finished up the track in her first two appearances, which was why she went off at 17-1 when she earned her diploma.

The speedy Quit Worrying has been idle since her two-race spring campaign, during which she dropped her debut by a neck to future stakes winner Rose and Shine. The race in which she graduated failed to produce a next-out winner, although the third-place finisher eventually beat $32,000 maidens.