ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The speedy Maakwa found new life in his last two outings going 1 1/16 miles. He will cut back to seven-eighths in Friday’s seventh race at Woodbine, a conditioned allowance with $50,000 claiming option. Maakwa won two Ontario-sired allowance races in his formative years before going into a prolonged slump, during which he would often break slowly. When going long for the first time in his penultimate start, the 6-year-old set a fast pace before weakening late to end up second. When entered for the main track only in a June 23 allowance taken off the turf, Maakwa ended a 14-race slump by leading all the way. He earned his second straight Beyer Speed Figure in the mid-80s in that race, numbers which make him a contender in Friday’s feature. How he will deal with the other speed in the lineup might be a concern for Jose Campos, who will ride him again for Old Oregon Trail Stables and trainer Shana Lopez. The hot second-leading trainer Marty Drexler entered Red River Rebel and Souper Watson in the eight-horse field. Red River Rebel was a $40,000 claim last August by A. Bianco Holdings. The stocky son of Reload was competitive here in the fall before getting the winter off. He ran third in a $35,000 conditioned claimer in his seasonal bow April 19 at Gulfstream Park. :: Get the Inside Track with the FREE DRF Morning Line Email Newsletter. Subscribe now.  Red River Rebel came from seventh to prevail in a 6 1/2-furlong event at this level with an 85 Beyer on May 26. He has posted four fast works in the interim and could go favored with Eswan Flores back aboard. Souper Watson was a $40,000 claim late in 2021 by TEC Racing. The Ghostzapper gelding had a productive 2023 campaign, with three wins and earnings of well over $100,000. The 7-year-old has been in a tailspin since last summer, however, and is being reunited with Sahin Civaci, who has ridden him in the past. Perfect Crime defeated Ontario-sired opponents in the Overskate Stakes traveling 7 1/2 furlongs on the inner turf in October. He subsequently finished eighth over the main track in the Steady Growth Stakes, and was third and fourth in his two starts at this level during the spring. Apprentice Fraser Aebly takes over on the son of Old Forester for trainer Patrick Dixon. I’m A Gambler dropped out of Grade 3 stakes company in California to finish third in his first try for trainer Kevin Attard in a seven-furlong turf sprint here June 17. This will be his first start on a synthetic surface. Dresden Row and Souped Up both possess speed. Trained by Lorne Richards, Dresden Row has been sidelined since landing a first-level allowance for 2-year-olds here Dec. 7. Souped Up wired first-level allowance types going seven-eighths with an 85 Beyer in his June 16 comeback for trainer Ron Sadler. Rapid Test is shortening up from a route with blinkers on after missing the board in his first three appearances at the meet. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.