Woodbine: Seawatch rested for Friday starter allowance

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Seawatch, who went on a tear during the spring and early summer, returns from a short layoff in the first race Friday at Woodbine. The 1 1/8-mile starter allowance is limited to horses who competed with a claiming price of $12,500 or less in 2012-13.

Seawatch, the sixth-place finisher in both the 2011 Queen’s Plate and Breeders’ Stakes, was claimed for $20,000 by trainer Kevin Attard last August. Seawatch didn’t win for Attard until May 4, when he defeated $10,000 nonwinners-of-two claiming horses over seven furlongs. He dropped his next start in a $20,000 conditioned claimer by a nose, but then romped at that level going 1 1/16 miles on June 14.

Seawatch was favored June 28 in a 1 1/4-mile starter allowance that he won comfortably after closing four wide over a rail-biased track.

Seawatch has worked five times leading up to Friday’s engagement and will have leading rider Luis Contreras back in the saddle.

Binks Forest should be the pacesetter in his first try under apprentice Sheena Ryan.

Trainer Mike Wright has won three races with Binks Forest since haltering him for $11,500 last August. The horse led throughout a $25,000 claimer on grass in his second race off the shelf June 7, then finished fourth behind Seawatch on June 28. Most recently, he faded to third July 10 in a $32,000 contest, from which runner-up Lord of Greatness exited to win at the same level next out.

Owner and trainer Nick DeToro sends out the entry of Rockinmebaby and Simply Smart.

Rockinmebaby has been idle since he was a distant but prominent fifth behind Seawatch on June 28. He got a career-high 70 Beyer Speed Figure in his May 26 victory over $16,000 opponents.

Simply Smart disappointed in each of his three outings since finishing fourth in a tough $20,000 starter allowance in his season debut May 24.

Handy Harold is a wake-up prospect in his third appearance of the meet. He was beaten by double-digit lengths twice in July but is being reunited with Emma-Jayne Wilson, who was aboard for both of his strong showings late last fall.

Mail Order Groom graduated over $20,000 maidens in his 12th attempt July 28. Justin Stein inherits the mount from Wilson on the 4-year-old.

As usual, Bare Is Best is slated to race with no shoes. He beat $7,500 claimers on grass at Fort Erie in June but has struggled since closing for third in an Ontario-sired allowance on Polytrack here July 5.