Woodbine: Ruvee gets class relief in Ontario-sired allowance

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Ruvee is getting some class relief for his first run of the year in Friday’s Woodbine feature and should be prominent in the 5 1/2-furlong Ontario-sired allowance worth $52,500.

Ruvee was slow to come around last year during his sophomore season, but he woke up dramatically in an open maiden special Nov. 18. He went straight to the lead that day and kept on going to score comfortably at 62-1. For covering six furlongs in 1:11.19, he was awarded a 74 Beyer Speed Figure.

Ruvee proved that effort wasn’t a fluke in a nonwinners-of-three Ontario-sired allowance Dec. 13, in which he finished a close second after a stalking trip under David Moran. He earned a 76 Beyer then, which is well above the Beyer par of 71 for Friday’s nonwinners-of-two Ontario-sired level.

Moran will ride Ruvee again for Ruvee Stable and trainer Frank Huarte, who has excellent numbers with similar comebackers.

The 3-year-old Millioninthemaking figures to be a speed threat in the headliner. He raced three times as a juvenile, starting with a slow victory in a short maiden special.

Millioninthemaking went to the sidelines after finishing up the track in the June 30 Clarendon Stakes, which was won by eventual Canadian Horse of the Year Uncaptured. He just missed after leading most of the way when resurfacing in a Dec. 12 allowance.

Eurico Da Silva, who led the rider standings here on opening weekend, retains the mount on the Abraham Katryan-trained Millioninthemaking.

Ben’s Best Bet is the lone winter-raced runner in the 10-horse field. He got a 60 Beyer for beating $25,000 maidens by five lengths on the dirt at Gulfstream Park on March 15. He was competitive here on the Polytrack in the past for trainer Mike DePaulo.

Sir Lowry’s Pass had a successful spring and summer campaign in 2012, before tailing off in the fall. After graduating off a layoff in April, he placed in several nonwinners-of-two allowances under Emma Wilson, who will ride him Friday.

Dr. Harkness defeated three of his current rivals when second in a Nov. 25 allowance over six furlongs. He was a wide fifth as the favorite in his last appearance Dec. 15, when he put up a career-best Polytrack Beyer of 68.

Sorry About That finished a close fifth behind Dr. Harkness after pressing the pace along the inside Nov. 25. He has worked quickly for trainer Laurie Silvera, who winters many of his horses in Florida.

Phil’s Dream has been idle since July 2011, when the 5-year-old graduated convincingly under Justin Stein.