TORONTO, October 18, 2020 – Track announcer Robert Geller comments on some of the performances that caught his eye in this regular segment, highlighting horses to key in on for upcoming races at Woodbine. CRYSTAL GLACIER (October 10, Race 10, No. 4, 2nd) In her first Woodbine start and just fourth lifetime, Crystal Glacier did all the heavy lifting throughout the 1-1/16 mile journey to go down fighting, caught in the final strides by Mark Casse stablemate, Heavenly Curlin, another promising lightly-raced customer to be beaten merely a half-length. The three-year-old filly had been forced into a pace duel by Niigon’s Spin, who faded to beat merely one horse home. Crystal Glacier continued to push along at a good clip in front before succumbing late, finishing 2-1/4 lengths clear of Enchanted Lady in third and her other stablemate, Day Dayenu, in fourth. Since her narrow Ellis Park debut win at 5-1/2 furlongs on dirt, Crystal Glacier had been unplaced in her two inner turf tries at Belmont and Saratoga in restricted allowance races, the latter going long. Her ability to show and sustain her speed on the main track despite early pressure suggests that Crystal Glacier should be able to break through in a non-winners of two races before the end of the meet. RIDE A COMET (October 16, Race 7, No. 1, 1st) The most eye-catching performance of the week was that of Ride a Comet, who showed no signs of rust from a lay off of two years and six weeks to dispose of a high level allowance field with contempt over seven furlongs on the main track. His last appearance came as a three-year-old in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby on turf over a mile and an eighth, having won the 2018 Charlie Barley at Woodbine over El Tormenta, a subsequent winner of the 2019 Ricoh Woodbine Mile. The back-class of the colt had never been questioned but Ride a Comet answered any niggling concerns about where he was now at, in spades. Ridden confidently by Patrick Husbands, Ride a Comet came with a sweeping move in his return that saw him make up several lengths from the tail end of the field to collar the leaders down the stretch and draw off to win by two. Patience was truly rewarded and should continue to be, given that first-up effort that took his tally to six wins from 11 starts. Trainer Mark Casse has another stakes quality runner in his barn that can successfully handle either surface and is effective from sprint to route. Follow Geller on Twitter @WoodbineGeller for more insights on racing at Woodbine. Share This:Share
