ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Stakes winner Ya Mar will take another crack at the nonwinners-of-three Ontario-sired allowance condition on the first twilight Friday card of the Woodbine meet in a five-furlong hybrid sprint that also has two entered for a $40,000 claiming tag. Post time for the eight-race program is 4:50 p.m. Ya Mar, a diminutive 3-year-old trained by Mark Casse, graduated in her second start by six lengths in a five-furlong Tapeta dash on Sept. 25. Two weeks later, she earned her second straight 66 Beyer Speed Figure when a stalking third behind Marie MacKay and Abrieta in the 5 1/2-furlong Shady Well Stakes for Ontario-breds. Ya Mar was the deserving favorite against Ontario-sired fillies in the South Ocean Stakes on Nov. 21. After attending the early pace in the 6 1/2-furlong event, she assumed command and then never looked back to win comfortably with a 65 Beyer. After wintering at the Casse Training Center in Florida, Ya Mar was favored in a six-furlong Ontario-sired allowance for 3-year-olds and up here April 23. She rode an inside bias while setting slow fractions and then got caught on the wire by the sharp 5-year-old Trading Bay. :: For the first time ever, our premium past performances are free! Get free Formulator now! From post 3, Antonio Gallardo retains the mount on Ya Mar. She could be regarded as a vulnerable favorite because she failed to close the deal last time when the circumstances were in her favor. Alternatives to Ya Mar in the seven-horse field include Ol’ Blondie, Big Band Luzziann, and Souper Pecan. Ol’ Blondie earned back-to-back 69 Beyers against open company when she peaked early last fall. She came wide from not too far back in fourth to beat nonwinners-of-two Ontario-sired rivals going five furlongs in her April 16 season opener and then breezed a half-mile in an eye-pleasing 50.40 seconds last Saturday. David Moran has the mount again on Ol’ Blondie for trainer Paul Buttigieg. Big Band Luzziann is a turf miler making her local debut and first synthetic start following a 7 1/2-month layoff. She won 2 of 9 starts in 2021, the highlight of which was a first-level allowance score at Indiana Grand. Rafael Hernandez will ride Big Band Luzziann. This is her first start for trainer Don MacRae, who is 0 for 6 with new acquisitions exiting a layoff of at least six months during the past five years. Souper Pecan had a productive 2021 campaign that included a victory against Ontario-sired maidens going five furlongs in her season debut. The stretch-runner got a 66 Beyer when beating Ontario-sired nonwinners-of-two foes in her penultimate race, which came over six furlongs on Oct. 28. Rounding out the field are Ima Beast, Sterling Speed, and Speedy Lynn. Carded as the sixth race, it is the third leg of the pick four and the anchor leg of the pick five.