Coffee Clique to target Canadian

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Brian Lynch captured his first Grade 1 stakes last Saturday at Belmont, where the Woodbine-based Coffee Clique prevailed by a nose in the Just a Game Stakes.

Lynch said the long-term goal for Coffee Clique is the Grade 2 Canadian here in September, which is a Win and You’re In stakes for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf.

“I think she’ll have a little bit of a break now and ultimately try and get one or two more starts into her, pressing on toward the Breeders’ Cup,” Lynch said.

Lynch said Hold the Gold will skip Sunday’s $500,000 Woodbine Oaks with an eye toward the subsequent legs of the Canadian Triple Tiara, the Bison City and Wonder Where stakes. Hold the Gold, a promising Stronach Stables runner, earned a 78 Beyer Speed Figure for her 8 3/4-length debut score in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race here May 25.

“Coming back in the Oaks off a maiden win would be a little too ambitious,” Lynch said. “I’ve always had a very high opinion of her.”

Hold the Gold is out of Grade 1 turf stakes winner Collect the Cash, the dam of Grade 1 Blue Grass winner Stately Victor.