Ya Mar makes first start in 11 months

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Stakes winner Ya Mar returns from an extended layoff as the probable favorite in Thursday’s opening race at Woodbine, a five-furlong, non-winners of three, inner-turf dash for Ontario-sired allowance types and $40,000 claimers.

A speedy 4-year-old trained by Mark Casse, Ya Mar notched her second start at 2 before ending up third in the Shady Well Stakes. She defeated Ontario-sired opposition with ease in her final juvenile appearance in the 6 1/2-furlong South Ocean Stakes.

Ya Mar went winless in five starts last year while managing a pair of seconds against Ontario-sired allowance stock, including in a 6 1/2-furlong main-turf sprint on good ground.

:: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets.

Apprentice Sofia Vives will break Ya Mar from the rail in a six-horse field on Thursday and should have her on the lead in her first start in 11 months. During the past five years at Woodbine, Casse has scored at an 18-percent clip with six-month-plus comebackers, with a return on investment of $1.66. The diminutive daughter of Silent Name is owned by her breeder, Gabe Grossberg.

Lantana Lady might be fast enough to go with Ya Mar early. She beat maidens and non-winners of two allowance opponents in the summer before coming up empty in a Sept. 12 dirt experiment in a minor stakes at Fort Erie. Ryan Munger will ride the 3-year-old again for trainer Steve Attard.

A hotly contested speed duel could set the table for Remembering Rhoda, who has two five-furlong inner-turf tallies to her credit vs. $15,000 maidens and $25,000 non-winners of two claimers.

Remembering Rhoda had troubled trips when third and fourth in her last two outings on the Tapeta. Juan Crawford, who broke her maiden for trainer Beverley Chubb, retains the mount on the 4-year-old.

Know How dead-heated for second behind Remembering Rhoda over this course in her second start off the sidelines June 1. She went on to beat $25,000 non-winners of two on the Tapeta and is coming off a sub-par seventh-place finish.

Luis Contreras inherits the mount from Munger on Know How, a 5-year-old by top European sprint sire No Nay Never trained by Vito Armata.

Retail Therapist earned Beyer Speed Figures in the 70s when second and sixth in longer turf events in August and September. After getting away slowly, she made a wide bid before fading to fifth most recently when favored in a seven-furlong main-turf sprint. Emma-Jayne Wilson picks up the mount for trainer Sylvain Pion.

Rounding out the field is Perfect Provision, who has been idle since ending up fifth against $15,000 non-winners of three claimers on the Tapeta here July 13. Her last victory came on the dirt at Gulfstream Park in a $12,500 conditioned claimer in January. Apprentice Amanda Vandermeersch has the call.

Post time for the eight-race card is 4:40 p.m.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.