Mexican Hat ready to take next step

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Mexican Hat’s first try in allowance company was encouraging, and she should clear the first allowance condition when traveling 1 1/16 miles in Friday’s Woodbine feature.

A 4-year-old Kentucky-bred by Street Cry, Mexican Hat began her career with legendary trainer Andre Fabre in France, where she finished third in two handicaps in October while still a maiden.

Following a layoff of nearly seven months, Mexican Hat made her first start for Anderson Farms Ontario, Narola LLC, and trainer Catherine Day Phillips here May 20. Sent off at 5-2 with Lasix added, she rallied wide from fifth to win the maiden special weight route on the Tapeta going away.

Mexican Hat was favored in an entry-level allowance on the grass July 8, and wound up second behind a peaking Get Explicit, who returned to finish sixth in the Grade 3 Ontario Colleen Stakes.

Mexican Hat switches back to the main track Friday, with second-leading rider Eurico Da Silva retaining the mount.

Friday’s nine-race card has just one turf race, a $12,500 sprint for fillies and mares, which will be run in lane 3.

KEY CONTENDERS

Mexican Hat, by Street Sense Beyers: 72-77-NA

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past two years, Day Phillips is 6 for 24 (25 percent) with turf-to-synthetic starters, with a return on investment of $1.35.

Mystic Nile, by Pioneerof the Nile Last 3 Beyers: 69-62-69

◗ She was a minor player in her first three outings of the meet before breaking through July 8, when she closed from off a quick pace to beat maiden special rivals by two lengths. Her trainer, Steve Attard, has been among the hottest on the grounds this summer.

Modus Operandi, by Marchfield Last 3 Beyers: 72-54-63

◗ She had a productive 2017 campaign, winning 3 of 12 starts including a $25,000 starter allowance. She’s winless in four starts this year, but is exiting a second in a $32,000 grass route and could be coming around.

Midnight Flash, by Midnight Lute Last 3 Beyers: 64-57-65

◗ She checked in third and fourth behind the future stakes performers Safe to Say and A.A. Azula’s Arch in back-to-back allowances for 3-year-old fillies in the spring. Most recently, she was a non-threatening sixth in the restricted Bison City Stakes.

Power Empire, by Empire Maker Last 3 Beyers: 48-50-59

◗ Early in the meet, trainer Mark Casse scored here with several Fair Grounds shippers who had been in poor form. This one finished 10 1/4 lengths in arrears there the last time she saw action, which came in a first-level optional claimer on the grass Jan. 1.