Works point to a strong Paige the General

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Judging by the way he has been working, Paige the General should be an imposing pace threat in Wednesday's seventh race at Woodbine, a seven-furlong allowance for Ontario-sired runners.

Paige the General dueled on the lead before drawing off for a 4 1/2-length score when he debuted in a six-furlong maiden special last October. His time of 1:12 translated into a Beyer Speed Figure of 74.

In his other start against Ontario-sired opposition, in the seven-furlong Frost King Stakes in November, Paige the General pressed the pace on the outside before fading to third behind Dancer's Bajan, who returned to win another restricted stakes.

Paige the General has recorded a string of rapid works on the dirt over Woodbine's training track this spring. Last Thursday, he covered five-eighths of a mile in 58 seconds, which was the fastest of four moves at the distance.

Steven Bahen has the mount on Paige the General, who is trained by John Charalambous for a partnership.

Among the other contenders in the 11-horse field are Executive Producer, One Card, Brockport, Pressac, Haliburton Boy, and Jaisimha.

Executive Producer graduated second time out in a six-furlong maiden dash May 9 for Bob Tiller, the meet's leading trainer. Unlike Paige the General, the late-running Executive Producer might be ideally suited to seven furlongs.

One Card has regressed with each subsequent start, but has had some excuses. He trounced $25,000 maidens with a Beyer Figure of 76 in his debut last fall, and he didn't reappear until his second-place finish in a five-furlong allowance April 13.

After ending up third behind the upwardly mobile Effteesee on May 2, One Card finished fifth after going wide over an inside-biased track in a May 20 allowance. He could have more punch in the stretch Wednesday in his second attempt with Lasix and jockey Patrick Husbands.

Brockport graduated in his 19th start Mayo11, showing newfound will to win. He earned a 77 Beyer once last year, the type of number that he would need to hang up in order to make his presence felt with these.

Pressac is debuting for trainer Lorne Richards following a winter layoff. He wound up fifth in a difficult two-turn allowance Dec. 10.

Haliburton Boy benefited from an inside bias when he was a front-running fourth in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance May 16. He will likely be forwardly placed under the hot-riding Eurico Rosa da Silva.

Jaisimha closed wide to edge Haliburton Boy for third in a typically good effort May 16.