Blessed Two gets more ground in Frost King Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Blessed Two will look to record his second stakes win while getting added distance in Wednesday night’s $125,000 Frost King Stakes for Ontario-sired 2-year-olds over seven furlongs on Tapeta at Woodbine.

Blessed Two rallied to win the Simcoe Stakes over 6 1/2 furlongs two starts back on Aug. 29. He shortened up in the six-furlong Bull Page Stakes on Sept. 23 and once again came with a late run to be third behind Bourbon Stritta. Trainer Kevin Attard said Blessed Two should appreciate the added ground in the Frost King.

“I think the cutback last time was a bit of a hinderance,” he said. “We’re looking forward to stretching him out. I definitely think the added yards are going to help him.”

Blessed Two has recorded three works since the Bull Page. He most recently breezed four furlongs on the Tapeta here in 48.20 seconds on Oct. 24.

“He’s doing well,” Attard said. “He’s physically matured a lot since his win in the Simcoe. He seems to have grown and he’s developing into a nice-looking individual.”

Key Contenders

Blessed Two, by Souper Speedy
Last 3 Beyers: 51-41-41

◗ Blessed Two is one of the top earners for leading Canadian freshman sire Souper Speedy, who has produced seven winners, including two stakes winners, from 11 runners.

Bourbon Stritta, by Old Forester
Beyers: 57-72

◗ He’s won both of his starts, including the Bull Page, rallying from well back after hitting the gate.

◗ Apprentice rider Kazushi Kimura takes over in the irons from the meet’s leading rider, Eurico Da Silva, who will ride debut winner Silencium.

Captain Handsome, by Silent Name
Beyer: 67

◗ He’s one of two debut winners in the Frost King field for trainer Bob Tiller. He won a five-furlong open maiden special weight event by 3 1/2-lengths on Oct. 7.

◗ Captain Handsome is a half-brother to stakes-winning sprinter Circle of Friends.

Silencium, by Silent Name
Beyer: 59

◗ Trained by Tiller, he took a field of Ontario-sired maidens gate to wire over six furlongs on Tapeta on Sept. 15.

◗ Da Silva will stick with Silencium, who will start from the outside in the 10-horse field.

Seguimi, by Victor’s Cry
Last 3 Beyers: 56-36-22

◗ He stretched out around two turns to win his maiden by 3 1/2 lengths over a mile and 70 yards on Sept. 26 and will now cut back to one turn.

◗ He finished third, just 1 3/4 lengths behind Blessed Two in the Simcoe Stakes after having to wait for traffic to clear along the rail.

Krachenwagen, by Head Chopper
Beyer: 65

◗ He overcame a slow beginning to win his debut by 4 3/4 lengths over five furlongs on Oct. 19.

◗ His half-siblings include sprinters Ratface MacDougall, Nupigodi, and Mizuchi.

Melmich targets Autumn Stakes

Melmich put in his final work last Saturday for the Grade 2, $175,000 Autumn Stakes, which will be run Saturday over 1 1/16 miles on Tapeta.

The Autumn appears to be attracting a solid field, including graded stakes winners Decorated Soldier and Mr Havercamp.

Attard said he was pleased with Melmich’s work Saturday morning, when he covered four furlongs in 47.20.

“I thought it was a super work,” he said. “We are quite pleased with his training right now and we’re hoping to kind of rebound.”

Melmich has not won in his six starts this season, although he has finished in the money five times, with four runner-up finishes. He was most recently third while facing three other rivals in the Grade 3 Durham Cup Stakes over 1 1/8 miles on Tapeta.

“There has been some races where the pace hasn’t measured up like you’d like to see and things like that,” Attard said. “At the end of the day, you have to stop making excuses and the horse has to show up.”