Can'thelpbelieving improving for Nijinsky Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The Maryland-based Can’thelpbelieving appears to have found a cozy spot in Saturday’s $175,000 Nijinsky Stakes, and the Graham Motion-trained 6-year-old should be the prohibitive favorite in the 1 1/4-mile turf route at Woodbine.

Can’thelpbelieving has improved by leaps and bounds with each start since returning from an extended layoff May 6, when he came up empty in the Grade 1 Turf Classic at Churchill Downs. He went on to run fourth in the Grade 3 Red Bank at Monmouth, then finished a close second over the same course in the Grade 1 United Nations on July 1.

:: Christmas in July! Take 20% off PPs, Clocker Reports, and more

“I blame myself for his first race back,” Motion said. “I think I probably over-placed him. It was a tough spot on a soft turf course that he may or may not have cared for. I thought his last race was a really good effort. He came very close to winning. That’s more what I thought he was capable of.”

The Grade 2 Nijinsky heads a 10-race card that also includes the $125,000 Royal North Stakes, a Grade 3 turf sprint for fillies and mares.

KEY CONTENDERS

Can’thelpbelieving, by Duke of Marmalade
Last 3 Beyers: 103-93-68

◗ Motion said the gelding is at his best going 1 1/4 or 1 3/8 miles and probably prefers firm ground.

◗ James Graham has the mount.

Dragon Bay, by Parading
Last 3 Beyers: 93-96-89

◗ The versatile 4-year-old won the English Channel Stakes on the Belmont Park turf last fall and was victorious in the Grade 2 Eclipse Stakes on the Tapeta here May 20.

◗ Trainer Stu Simon said an inside trip was counterproductive when the gelding finished sixth most recently in the Grade 2 King Edward.

Tour de Force, by Tiznow
Last 3 Beyers: 81-76-81

◗ The $1.35 million yearling purchase is making his stakes debut after beating second-level optional-claiming opposition on the Tapeta in his local debut July 9.

◗ He graduated in his only turf start at Fair Grounds.