Yoshii can extend win streak against tougher foes
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Yoshii tore up the turf this summer at Woodbine and will take a step up in class for Sunday’s featured conditioned allowance/optional claimer going a mile on the inner course.
Yoshii was briefly on this year’s King’s Plate trail after winning his first two starts in a pair of Tapeta sprints, against maidens and nonwinners-of-two rivals. When extending to 1 1/16 miles in the Grade 3 Marine, he finished a distant fifth after a wide journey.
Trainer Dale Desruisseaux regrouped with Yoshii after the June 27 Marine and tried him on the inner turf versus nonwinners-of-three opposition with a $40,000 tag on July 31. The son of Yoshida won off by 3 1/2 lengths then in his first start under apprentice Christoff Douglas, who also was aboard when Yoshii doubled up in a main turf allowance Aug. 29.
“His record speaks for itself,” Desruisseaux said. “I think this is going to be the acid test. He’s got a funny gait, and we took advantage of that and ran him for the $40,000. Luckily enough, we didn’t lose him. He hasn’t done anything wrong other than the two turns on the Tapeta.”
Desruisseaux believes the jury’s still out regarding whether or not Yoshii is a turf specialist.
“Chris has breezed him on the Tapeta and rode him on the grass, and he said [Yoshii] felt a lot better on the grass,” Desruisseaux said. “Visually, I think he looks a little better on the grass. I’m hoping not. I’m hoping he’s just coming into himself and got confidence because he won a few in a row.”
Yoshii should be forwardly placed behind the speedy comebacker Eyes On the King, who has been working right along for trainer Mark Casse.
Eyes On the King has been sidelined since a close third 13 months ago in a conditioned allowance/optional claimer at Colonial. The well-traveled 6-year-old competed in Woodbine stakes in the past, finishing seventh in the Grade 3 Singspiel in 2024 and sixth in the 2023 Toronto Cup. He got a career-high 90 Beyer Speed Figure when third off a six-month layoff in a June 15 conditioned allowance/optional claimer at Gulfstream.
Eyes On the King will split the five-horse field when he breaks from post 3 under Rafael Hernandez. Yoshi drew the rail, with Kekoa just to his outside.
Kekoa never fired most recently in the Elgin Stakes on the Tapeta. He was previously a chalky second at this level on the inner turf behind Itsastormymonday, who subsequently ran fourth in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile. Fraser Aebly will ride him again for trainer Catherine Day-Phillips.
Ciunas won two of his last three outings under leading rider Pietro Moran, who retains the mount from post 5. He cleared the first allowance condition with a 90 Beyer on Aug. 15 and has since worked thrice over the turf training course.
War Bomber drew post 4 under Sahin Civaci. The durable 8-year-old was favored in an Aug. 9 main turf sprint at this level, during which he rallied for third behind Two Out Hero and War Strategy.
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