Woodbine: Molinaro Remarks no 40-1 this time

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Molinaro Remarks lit up the tote board like a Christmas tree when he won his turf debut, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see him strike again in Friday’s Woodbine headliner, a 10-furlong first-level allowance for Ontario-sired horses.

Molinaro Remarks was beaten in double digits in his first four races, all in Ontario-sired maiden special company on the Polytrack. He was let go at 40-1 when he moved to the turf for 1 1/16-mile maiden route June 15, and rewarded his few backers with a gate-to-wire victory under an enterprising ride from Steve Bahen.

Molinaro Remarks breezed a half-mile in a quick 47.80 on the Polytrack June 25, and figures to lead the way again. His connections, Molinaro Stable and trainer Vito Armata, campaigned 2002 Queen’s Plate winner T J’s Lucky Moon, who was ridden by Bahen.

Leading trainer Mark Casse entered Control and The Acid Test, who are both adding blinkers.

Control is trying the grass for the first time. His sire, dirt specialist Survivalist, is 0 for 6 with turf starters, but Control’s dam has thrown turf winner Flying by the Pole.

Control finished second or third in all three of his starts this year, all Ontario-sired allowance races. In one of those he ran second to Hippolytus, who subsequently ran second in the Queen’s Plate.

Patrick Husbands inherits the mount on Control from Luis Contreras, who’s sticking with The Acid Test.

The Acid Test won his maiden from off the pace in a nine-furlong event that was taken off the grass May 27. He had a hot pace to chase on the turf June 18, finishing third after saving ground near the rear of the large field.

Cavalierdancer edged out The Acid Test for second June 18 after surrendering a clear lead. He earned his diploma on the grass last summer under Jono Jones, who will ride him again Friday for trainer Danny O’Callaghan.

Hit Me Home is perhaps the most intriguing runner in the lineup. He was beaten a pole in a sprint on the Poly when he debuted in May of last year, and didn’t start again until June 19, when he overcame traffic problems to eke out a victory in a seven-furlong maiden special on the grass.

Rounding out the field is Cojac, who finished a close second in a 10-furlong allowance on the grass last October.