Maiden Winners Look Tough in Summer

[Wandering Eyes]

Woodbine strongholds Josie Carroll and Mark Casse combine for five of the 13 contenders in Woodbine’s GI Summer S., a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” test, but they have to get through the formidable Chad Brown entrant first.

Brown brings the imposing Saratoga maiden winner Fog of War (War Front) for his stakes debut. A $400,000 Keeneland September yearling graduate, he won by just a neck in his 5 1/2 furlong turf unveiling at Saratoga Aug. 13, but did it while closing from off the pace and got a 77 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort. In addition, he has a dam by stamina influence Galileo (Ire) and has put in three steady works at Saratoga since his win.

Avie’s Flatter (Flatter) is also short on experience, but had a debut that looked tall on talent. From the Carroll barn, Avie’s Flatter went off at even-money in his Aug. 12 debut here over the all weather, overcame a little trouble at the start, and drove home a 2 1/2 length victor. He put in a swift work on the grass Sept. 8 and looks to emulate his half-sister Avie’s Mineshaft (Mineshaft), winner of the Wonder Where S. on this course last month.

Carroll brings another maiden winner, Nashtrick (Hat Trick {Jpn}). This one’s debut came Aug. 24 over this very course at seven furlongs and he won like he had something left in the tank. The Casse-trained War of Will (War Front) finished third in that heat and gets Lasix for this second attempt at graduation.

Casse brings another maiden with more experience who looks to be improving with every start in Tricky Magician (Magician {Ire}), who has made all three lifetime starts here at Woodbine. His first was July 1, when he was third over the all weather and he came back for a second on the turf Aug. 4 behind the reopposing Jungle Warrior (Animal Kingdom). Without a visit to the winner’s circle, his connections wheeled him back in the Aug. 26 Soaring Free S., where he was second over a yielding course.

 

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