Woodbine: Village Drive shortens up for Wednesday's marathon feature

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The long-winded Village Drive cuts back in distance in Wednesday’s eighth race at Woodbine, a 1 1/2-mile starter allowance for horses who have run for a claiming tag of $12,500 or less since the beginning of 2012.

Village Drive has proven to be well worth the $12,500 for which he was claimed in 2011 by trainer Tom Patton. The 6-year-old gelding has banked more than $44,000 in each of the past two years, during which he’s won 6 of 19 starts.

Village Drive won his last two outings on the dirt at Fort Erie, including a starter allowance at two miles and 70 yards. He made five starts here earlier in the meet and managed to finish second twice on the Polytrack in a pair of $16,000 claiming races.

Matt Moore retains the mount on Village Drive, who is owned by Connie Patton.

Seawatch also possesses ample stamina when he’s on his game. He had a productive campaign in the spring, capturing two conditioned claimers, then landed a 1 1/4-mile starter allowance by daylight June 28.

Seawatch has struggled of late. He is exiting a wide eighth-place finish in a tough seven-furlong sprint for $20,000 claimers. Luis Contreras will ride him for trainer Kevin Attard, who claimed the 5-year-old for $20,000 in August 2012.

Rockinmebaby is dropping in class off a seventh-place finish in a 1 1/16-mile allowance that was taken off the turf. He defeated Seawatch in a 1 1/8-mile starter allowance Aug. 23 and was victorious in a $16,000 claimer in May.

Todd Kabel, who was aboard for each of Rockinmebaby’s scores at the meet, has the call.

Binks Forest and Control are coupled in the Mike Wright-trained entry. Apprentice Sheena Ryan was named on both 5-year-olds.

Binks Forest is shedding blinkers off a fading fifth-place finish in a 1 1/4-mile allowance in which he set a lively pace. He wound up third in each of his previous four excursions, including in Rockinmebaby’s Aug. 23 triumph.

Control, winless in eight starts this year, never was in contention in a recent $10,000 contest.

Pegu got away slowly before closing from off a fairly quick pace for second in a $10,000 claimer won by the classy Safety Zone on Oct. 30.

Hidden Profit checked in fourth behind Pegu that day after saving ground over a track that aided closers on the outside. He could make some noise as a longshot.

Bare Is Best and Bare Humor both are competing with no shoes, which is the norm for Marc Blouin-trained runners.

Rounding out the field is the erratic Lifes Not a Breeze.