Four yearling sales stakes top rich program

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – It’s appropriate that a photo of 2023 King’s Plate winner Paramount Prince fronts the catalog for the 2024 Canadian Premier yearling sale, since he’s among the most accomplished graduates of the auction. His 2-year-old half-sister, Souper Supreme, will try to notch her first stakes in the $250,000 Muskoka, one of four Tapeta stakes for graduates of Canadian yearling sales on Sunday’s Woodbine card.

Trained by Mark Casse, Souper Supreme was a $100,000 purchase by Paramount Prince’s owners, Gary Barber and Michael Langlois. She earned her diploma second time out going five-eighths and could lead the way on the stretch-out to 6 1/2 furlongs in the Muskoka.

Breeder Ericka Rusnak, who has a filly from the same mare in the upcoming Aug. 28 sale, said she fancied Souper Supreme from a young age.

“She was always very classy and good looking,” Rusnak recalled.

Casse also entered first-time starter Princess of Storm. A daughter of Cairo Prince owned by Barber, she also cost $100,000 at the sale and is a half-sister to last year’s Muskoka winner, Hurricane Clair.

“She’s training very well,” Casse said. “She can run. Both of those fillies I thought were in our ‘A’ group this winter.”

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Hurricane Clair’s trainer, Marty Drexler, sends out the promising Soupergirl, who notched her debut before being sold. She went on to finish second to favored Bullet in the July 13 My Dear, an open five-furlong stakes, and could go favored over Skylight Caper.

Trained by Kevin Attard, Skylight Caper won her second race in an open maiden special going away by 4 1/2 lengths on Aug. 3.

The male version of the Muskoka, the $250,000 Simcoe, is another 6 1/2-furlong sprint. Among the protagonists are Kokomo, Flirting With Fire, and Scorching.

Kokomo gets full marks for experience. He ran second in three straight maiden specials over two different surfaces before earning his diploma with determination most recently going three-quarters on the Tapeta. Gail Cox owns and trains the son of Flameaway, who was a $65,000 purchase.

Little Teddy stands out in the $100,000 Algoma, a seven-furlong event for 3-year-old fillies.

Trained by Santino DiPaola, Little Teddy was a bargain $15,000 purchase. She notched her first stakes two back in the five-furlong Georgian Bay on the inner turf and gave favored Olivia Rose a run for her money most recently when a clear second in the six-furlong Thunder Bay Stakes on the main turf.

“I knew we were in trouble in that last race when no one went with Olivia Rose,” DiPaola said. “She got away with easy fractions, and they flew home. They opened up and it was a little bit of dog fight, but there’s no Olivia Rose this time.”

DiPaola expects another strong showing from Little Teddy, who’s out of a half-sister to Bison City Stakes winner Brooklynsway, dam of Grade 1-winning millionaire Adare Manor.

“She’s good to go,” DiPaola said. “Sahin Civaci is back riding her. She’s trained really well. I love the seven furlongs. She won two races going six and a half, so I don’t see seven being an issue. She can settle a little bit rather than rush all the time.”

The male version of the Algoma, the $100,000 Elgin, is more wide open. Trainer John Ross saddles Garofoli and Junior Hot Shot in the seven-furlong tilt.

Garofoli has earned Beyer Speed Figures in the low 80s in each of his last two outings, most recently when landing a five-furlong inner-turf dash for nonwinners-of-two Ontario-sired allowance types and $40,000 claimers.

Junior Hot Shot has stuck to the grass since finishing a wide fifth behind My Boy Prince in the Queenston Stakes on June 9, finishing second in the five-furlong Lake Huron and fifth in the six-furlong Lake Superior Stakes.

Yacht Boy improved significantly this year after moving to the barn of trainer Robert Tiller during the offseason. The son of Old Forester got a 79 Beyer in two of his last three starts, most recently when a prominent second in a six-furlong Ontario-sired allowance.

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◗ Saratoga-based Outlaw Kid will try to win Sunday’s $150,000 Vice Regent Stakes for the second year in a row and should be favored in the five-furlong inner-turf dash for Ontario-breds.

Trained by George Weaver, Outlaw Kid got a 95 Beyer when winning a conditioned allowance with an $80,000 claiming option from off the pace July 4 at Aqueduct. His last race at the Spa in the Grade 3 Troy came off the grass, during which he held on for second after uncharacteristically showing speed. Civaci will ride the 5-year-old.

The speedy Silent Reserve lost last year’s Vice Regent by a neck after setting a torrid pace. He figures to lead the way again with Rockcrest in close proximity. Both geldings are returning from a break, during which they both worked impressively.

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