Aye Aye Captain to stretch out in Kingarvie

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Catherine Day Phillips came close to recording her second stakes win of the meet Saturday, when Neshama was nosed out by Trini Brewnette in the $125,400 South Ocean Stakes, but she’ll have at least one more stakes starter before the end of the season, as Aye Aye Captain is on track for the $125,000 Kingarvie Stakes on Nov. 29.

Aye Aye Captain is unbeaten in two starts against Ontario-sired maiden and allowance competition to begin his career and will step up to stakes company for the first time in the Kingarvie, which is restricted to Ontario-sired 2-year-olds and will be run over 1 1/16 miles on Polytrack.

Aye Aye Captain breezed Oct. 31 and was eligible to run in the Coronation Futurity on Nov. 8, but Day Phillips decided to wait for the Kingarvie rather than rush Aye Aye Captain back quickly.

“I nominated him to keep the option open, but we’ll just wait for the Kingarvie,” she said.

Aye Aye Captain debuted Sept. 27 with a 1 1/4-length victory over Conquest Cavalry in a seven-furlong sprint for Ontario-sired maidens and followed up with a 2 1/2-length win over the stakes-placed Ultraflame in another seven-furlong sprint last out Oct. 18.

Day Phillips said Aye Aye Captain has been training forwardly since then and should handle the stretch-out in distance.

“He’s been training well,” she said. “I think he’s quite lovely, and I’m looking forward to seeing him go two turns.”