Woodbine: Iroquois Falls could find winner's circle against modest allowance field

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Iroquois Falls has wound up third in three consecutive Ontario-sired allowances since earning his diploma, but has found a spot where he could break through in Friday’s Woodbine headliner, a 1 1/16-mile allowance carded as race 6.

Iroquois Falls graduated in his seventh start Sept. 7, when he put up a 69 Beyer Speed Figure in a three-length tally over a mediocre maiden special field. His streak of thirds in nonwinners-of-two allowances began a month later, when he was beaten 6 1/4 lengths by the upwardly mobile Pugsley.

Iroquois Falls earned a career-high 72 Beyer Oct. 27, ending up 5 3/4 lengths behind another hot horse, Take Three. Most recently Nov. 16, he mounted a four-wide bid over an inside-biased track to finish 2 1/4 lengths in arrears.

Iroquois Falls has been saddled with the outside post in a large field on Friday, but at least he should have clear sailing under regular rider Omar Moreno.

Love to Battle stalked a slow pace on the outside before beating out Iroquois Falls for second in one of his better efforts Nov. 16. The 4-year-old Love to Battle’s maiden victory came early in his career, but he’s definitely a win candidate against this modest group.

Steve Bahen will ride Love to Battle again for trainer Greg Cox, who has had a productive meet.

Major Production made quite a splash Nov. 15 in a 1 1/2-mile maiden special, which he won easily with a 70 Beyer. Emma-Jayne Wilson inherits the mount on him from Jim McAleney, who’s sticking with the Reade Baker-trained Bear’s Good Men.

Bear’s Good Men prevailed by a head after dueling up front when he debuted in a sprint for $25,000 Ontario-sired maidens Nov. 27. Bought for about $120,000 as a yearling, Bear’s Good Men is a son of stamina sire Philanthropist but is bred to be a sprinter on the dam’s side.

Fairly Certain also defeated $25,000 maidens in his last outing. He broke slowly and then closed four wide going 1 1/16 miles.

Unwinding At Work rode an inside bias to a distant third-place finish in a seven-furlong allowance on the Polytrack Nov. 17. His best performances have come over the grass.

Rackman hasn’t shown much since he competed unsuccessfully in the first two legs of the Canadian Triple Crown in July.

Gates of Glory is stepping up off a wide fourth over an inside-favoring surface in a low-level conditioned claimer.

Skimmer Jim is exiting back-to-back fourths, both under leading rider Luis Contreras.