First With Class set for Grass at Woodbine
Tonight (Wednesday, June 23) at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Canada, horse racing fans can look forward to a $76,200 Allowance Optional Claimer, which has attracted six female runners including 9/5 favourite, First For Class.
To be contested over 7 furlongs on grass, the race is expected to be a humdinger as 3-year-old Ontario-bred filly First For Class goes up against arguably her biggest competition in second favourite and 6-year-old Kentucky-bred mare, Lemon Twirl.
First With Class earned her favourite status thanks to a superb record, starting with her debut in a 5 furlong maiden special in April this year, where after starting from barrier 1 she went very wide before romping home first against 10 other runners.
Then in a 7-furlong allowance in May, while she ran a good stalking race, First With Class only managed to finish third behind Moment of Majesty, who earlier this month finished second to Roan Inish in the prestigious Woodbine Oaks (Gr 1).
First With Class then reclaimed her winning form in another 7-furlong allowance, again stalking the leaders, but on this occasion passing them to cross the line first by a 1/2 length. Hence the reason she will be well-backed in tonight's Allowance.
Lemon Twirl, meanwhile, is making her first start of the year since her narrow loss in a 1-mile optional claimer in November last year at Churchill Downs. She has reportedly been setting some fast splits of late for her respected trainer, John Mattine.
However, Sans Sousi, a 4-year-old filly from the stables of trainer Mike Doyle, could pose a threat to both of the favourites, who has proved herself in previous races over both synthetic Polytrack and turf. At 8/1, she could be the surprise runner.
Here is the complete field and odds for tonight's $76,200 Allowance Optional Claimer at Woodbine Racetrack:
- Lemon Twirl (KY) 2/1
- Retraceable (ON) 6/1
- First With Class (ON) 9/5
- Sans Sousi (ON) 8/1
- Rebecca's Song (KY) 7/2
- Dance for Us (ON) 10/1
