Woodlands: I Spy Wolfie get pace to stalk

I Spy Wolfie could get a perfect pace setup in Sunday's $20,000 Woodlands Derby at the Woodlands in Kansas City, Kan. The 1 1/16-mile race has drawn a field of six, including My Secret Star, recent winner of the $10,000 Van Berg Derby.

I Spy Wolfie has made two starts at the Woodlands. Last year, he won the track's Juvenile, and this year he finished second by a half-length in a $20,000 optional claiming race Sept. 29. In his final prep for the Woodlands Derby he worked a half-mile in a bullet 47.80 seconds Oct. 9. I Spy Wolfie has tactical speed, and could sit just off Glory to Spare and Sneakin By, a pair of front-runners stretching out from six-furlong races on Sunday.

"It looks like there's a couple in there with some speed, which ought to put us in a nice stalking position," said Charlie Smith, who owns and trains I Spy Wolfie.

Leading rider Ken Shino has the mount Sunday.

My Secret Star drew out to a 14 1/2-length win in the Van Berg Derby at Columbus in Nebraska in his last start, Aug. 18. For the effort, he earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 82. The number is the second highest in the field behind the 92 earned by Glory to Spare for a wire-to-wire win in a Woodlands allowance sprint Sept. 30.

Milton Gaede trains My Secret Star, while Glory to Spare is trained by Jim McCoy.