Calgary Cat seeks repeat win in Ontario Jockey Club Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Coming off a close fifth-place finish in the Troy Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 20, Calgary Cat will return to his preferred distance in an attempt to win Sunday’s $100,000 Ontario Jockey Club Stakes at Woodbine for the second year in a row.

The six-furlong sprint on Tapeta has attracted some of the top older sprinters at Woodbine, including Calgary Cat and Stacked Deck, the last two Canadian sprint champions, and the rejuvenated Puntrooskie, who enters off a win in the Grade 3 Bold Venture Stakes on July 23.

Calgary Cat was third behind Puntrooskie in the Bold Venture and was three-quarters of a length short in the 5 1/2-furlong Troy. Trainer Kevin Attard said he opted to send Calgary Cat to Saratoga instead of staying home for the Grade 2 Play the King Stakes because of the shorter distance.

“I wanted to get the horse back on the turf, and seven furlongs is a little too far for him,” he said. “We gave him a shot, and I thought he ran really well.”

Since the Troy, Calgary Cat has been training well, Attard said. Calgary Cat breezed four furlongs in a sharp 46.40 seconds on the Tapeta last Sunday.

Ontario Jockey Club Stakes, Race 6

Key Contenders

Calgary Cat, by Cowtown Cat
Last 3 Beyers: 99-95-95

◗ A return to six furlongs should suit Calgary Cat well, as he’s 7 for 10 at the distance.

◗ Luis Contreras will ride Calgary Cat for the second time after the horse’s regular rider, Eurico Da Silva, was named to ride Puntrooskie.

Puntrooskie, by In Summation
Last 3 Beyers: 102-95-82

◗ He’s 2 for 2 since being claimed by trainer Donald MacRae for $40,000 in May, including a victory in the Bold Venture Stakes, in which he earned a career-best 102 Beyer Speed Figure.

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Da Silva and MacRae have a 41 percent strike rate from 41 starters together over the past five years, with a very strong return on investment of $3.05.

Stacked Deck, by First Samurai
Last 3 Beyers: 92-102-103

◗ He’ll make his first start since he was fifth in the Grade 2 Connaught Cup in June. Trainer Barb Minshall said Stacked Deck missed time because of an illness.

Sweet Grass Creek, by Wando
Last 3 Beyers: 91-91-92

◗ He’s been knocking on the door in search of his first stakes win and was beaten a neck in his most recent start in the Shepperton Stakes on Aug. 6. Runner-up Jacks Escarpment came back to win the Kenora Stakes with a 94 Beyer on Aug. 31.

Colin Stakes, Race 8

Later on the card, Junket seeks his first stakes victory in the $125,000 Colin Stakes for 2-year-olds over six furlongs on the Tapeta.

Junket led most of the way in the six-furlong Victoria Stakes on July 17 but couldn’t hold off Lokinforpursemonee in the final strides. Lokinforpursemonee has since come back to win the Simcoe Stakes with a 60 Beyer on Aug. 31. Prior to the Victoria, Junket was a dominant winner in his career debut against $50,000 maiden claimers.

Honor River comes into the Colin off a maiden win in his second start Aug. 14. Honor River settled off the pace in the six-furlong sprint before sweeping to the lead in the final sixteenth of a mile.

Other key contenders include Signature Spring, who defeated Ontario-sired maidens in his debut Aug. 20, and King and His Court, who was third behind Tiz a Slam in the prep for the Grade 2 Summer Stakes on turf Aug. 28.