Front-runners won four of the eight races tonight, but I'll stop short of calling it a speed bias on the Tapeta because one of them got away with slow fractions, and two deep closers were victorious.
Luis Contreras won the featured opener, a seven-furlong allowance for 2yos, on the favored Cooler Mike, who was exiting a second in the restricted Simcoe Stakes. He should be a factor in Ontario-sired stakes action here this fall for trainer Nick Nosowenko.
Rafael Hernandez doubled up on front-runners Street Legal and Niigon Road. The latter was the 51st winner of the meet for second-leading trainer Norm McKnight, who trails perennial leader Mark Casse by 10 wins.
Casse scored with the higher-priced of his two entrants in the sixth. Timeiseverything, who wired a group of $40K/OS maidens going seven-eighths.
The Jackpot Hi 5 carryover heading into Friday is $33K.