TORONTO, May 28, 2019 – Each week, track announcer Robert Geller comments on some of the performances that caught his eye, highlighting horses to key in on for upcoming races at Woodbine. AMALFI COAST (May 18, 2019, Race 8, No. 5, 2nd) As runner-up to odds-on favourite Miss Behave, 13-1 newcomer Amalfi Coast began to close into the race from the top of the stretch. A nicely bred chestnut by Tapizar, this three-year-old filly gradually built her momentum from fifth. Keeping to the task throughout the entire 6-1/2 furlongs, Amalfi Coast came within a diminishing half-length of the winner with a further half-length back to another first-time starter in Ready and Perfect. The filly had caught the eye of our Woodbine clocker, Ernie Perri, but there is nothing like a race under the belt to advance fitness. Trainer Kevin Attard is off to a great start at the meet and this Ontario-bred ran well enough fresh in this maiden allowance to suggest her first win is just around the corner. MR RITZ (May 20, 2019, Race 7, No. 1, 2nd) It had to be more than having the rail into the headwind in the home stretch to explain the gusty second by Mr Ritz in a nail-biter with Souper Tapit as the talented pair locked horns right to the wire in an epic finish to the Grade 2 Eclipse Stakes. Every single time Mr Ritz looked beaten, he countered. Despite looking to have his measure, Souper Tapit never really did, prevailing in a desperate head-bob. Rider Eurico Rosa de Silva gunned from the inside post on Mr Ritz to lead the mile and one-sixteenth distance for as long as he possibly could. A promising four-year-old, equally adept, if not more, on turf as Tapeta, this British-bred colt in the barn of Josie Carroll showed he can handle experienced horses. Versatile, adaptable and still maturing, for these reasons, I am “puttin’ on the Ritz.” Follow Geller on Twitter @WoodbineGeller for more insights on racing at Woodbine. Share This:Share
