TORONTO, July 9, 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. TRACKING GOLD (Sunday, June 30, Race 9, No. 9, 2nd) First-time starter Tracking Gold ran a deceptively good second in his debut to longer priced stablemate That’s My Mission, who held down the E.P. Taylor stretch to score over 6-1/2 furlongs by a half-length. The offspring of Animal Kingdom continue to show an affinity for the turf for Adena Springs and Tracking Gold proved no exception. From the outside post, he appeared all at sea at the break, taking time to find his path, settling toward the tail of the field on a day when the race pattern had been speed favouring. It was not until the top of the home stretch that rider Luis Contreras built his rally, angling to the deeper part of the track. Closing steadily, Tracking Gold managed to pass all but the winner, a half-length clear of Get the News, who had chased home an impressive Cabertoss in his previous start. A similar effort next time out should see the Sid Attard-trained three-year-old Tracking Gold break his maiden allowance. NOW WE ARE NINE (Wednesday, July 3, Race 6, No. 6, 4th) As the field swung for home in this $40,000 maiden optional claimer, 9-1 shot Now We Are Nine, a three-year-old having his second lifetime start, was full of run. When asked by rider Steven Bahen, things did not quite pan out as hoped. Now We Are Nine found himself trapped behind the leading pair inside the final furlong, his momentum stopped. An uninterrupted path may well have led to a win, trainer Daryl Hasmatali having to settle for an unlucky fourth. The favourite, Victor’s Way, nabbed a resilient Papa D at the wire, Seventh Wonder sneaking third with Now We Are Nine winding up two and a half lengths from the winner. By Spaniard, Now We Are Nine defied his 43-1 odds when debuting last October as a two-year-old in a maiden special weight to Captain Handsome over the same distance. Now We Are Nine should again offer value in his next attempt to break the maiden. Follow Geller on Twitter @WoodbineGeller for more insights on racing at Woodbine. Share This:Share
