Woodbine: Wicket Ewok takes the turf test

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Wicket Ewok takes a three-race win streak into his turf debut Thursday at Woodbine in a seven-furlong allowance for 3-year-olds that has no restrictions and is worth $89,400.

Wicket Ewok captured his second start off the sidelines in a first-level allowance May 15. Trainer Mike Pino spotted him realistically a month later in a $40,000 event, which Wicket Ewok won after coming from a stalking position. Trainer Sid Attard claimed him that day and ran him back against older opposition in a seven-furlong optional claimer July 29, which he won by a nose at 26-1.

By Sharp Humor, Wicket Ewok is bred for the main track on the sire’s side, but his rapid dam, Cricket Wicket, was a stakes-winning turf sprinter at Woodbine. Jesse Campbell, a very capable turf rider, retains the mount on him.

Leading trainer Mark Casse entered Thundering Waters and Call for Silver in Thursday’s race.

Thundering Waters should be favored off his close fifth-place finish behind Clement Rock in the nine-furlong Toronto Cup Stakes, from which runner-up Celtic Conviction exited to run second (disqualified to third) in the Breeders’ Stakes. Thundering Waters was previously third in the Charlie Barley Stakes, and is turning back to the distance of his maiden victory. Luis Contreras, who was aboard for that maiden win, will break him from post 1.

Call for Silver won his maiden over six furlongs on the grass following a long layoff June 17, and is coming off a third in an allowance sprint on Polytrack. He breezed five-eighths in a bullet 58.80 last Thursday, and Patrick Husbands will ride him again.

Say No More finished third behind Celtic Conviction in the 2010 Cup and Saucer Stakes. He began the meet on a high note, with an allowance score and a second in the Queenston Stakes, but has regressed since then.

Trainer Mike Keogh is adding blinkers to Say No More’s equipment, and he’s had ample success with the first-time blinkers angle.

Kentucky shipper Stormy Going and Something Extra are both front-runners who could link up on the lead. Stormy Going is exiting two straight fourths at Indiana Downs, including in the $214,200 Oliver Stakes. He was a beaten favorite there in a July 12 optional claimer. Something Extra has had a break since ending up second in the one-mile Charlie Barley June 25.

Rounding out the field is the European import Cafe Elektric, who has been a minor player this year on turf and Polytrack.