Giant Teddy ready for Elgin, one of four sales stakes on card

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Giant Teddy cuts back to seven furlongs and should take some beating in the $100,000 Elgin for male 3-year-olds, one of four stakes for graduates of Canadian yearling sales on Sunday’s 10-race card at Woodbine.

The 2022 Canadian Premier Yearling Sale is scheduled for noon Wednesday at the Woodbine Sales Pavilion.

Giant Teddy won his only start at 2, but began his current campaign with two dull races in May that were just 12 days apart. He crushed Ontario-sired allowance types with an 85 Beyer Speed Figure on June 19, and has been pointed toward the Elgin since a front-running third against nonwinners-of-three company in another 1 1/16-mile route on July 15.

Trainer Julia Carey said she believes that Giant Teddy is at his best sprinting.

“He did win going two turns, but I don’t think he’s a true two-turn horse,” Carey explained. “He was a little too sharp the last time. I’ve always liked him as a come-from-behind sprinter.”

Giant Teddy has worked three times this month, including five-eighths in a quick 59.40 seconds on Aug. 14.

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“He’s a good little work horse,” Carey said. “He’s quite the character – very laid back and easy to handle. There’s no reason to geld him at this stage.”

Chairman Bob ran two good races in the spring before trailing in a 6 1/2-furlong sprint on July 2. He is coming into the Elgin fresh as part of a nine-horse field.

“He’s been a handy little horse for us,” trainer Kevin Attard said.

Muskoka

Attard sends out the debuting Katchy Name in the $200,000 Muskoka, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 2-year-old fillies.

A daughter of Silent Name, Katchy Name has worked extensively since early June.

“She’s doing well,” Attard said. “Obviously, it’s a tough task to ask of a first-time starter, running for $200,000 against sales horses, but it’s hard to bypass.”

The Muskoka lured 11 others, including Society’s Kat and Rifling. Both were second while beaten a neck the only time they raced.

Society’s Kat pressed the pace before drifting out late on Aug. 6.

“She ran really well first time,” trainer Mike Mattine said. “She ran a little greenly down the stretch and drifted out a bit, but I’m going to make a change. Hopefully, the blinkers might correct that problem.”

Rifling attended the pace from a three-wide position July 30 and ended up in the middle of a three-way win photo.

“It was a really nice effort,” trainer Stuart Simon said. “We’re going to make a couple of changes, which are blinkers on and adding Lasix, which I think will help her move forward a little bit again.”

Simcoe

The $200,000 Simcoe, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for male 2-year-olds, drew a huge field of 16, including two also-eligibles.

Attard sends out Mo Tourist, a $120,000 purchase by Tourist, who was fourth at first asking in a tough maiden special on June 12.

“We paid decent money for him last year,” Attard recalled. “He had one start and then had some 2-year-old issues after, so we had to back off on him a little bit. He’s coming in off a bit of a layoff, but I like the way he’s trained and he’s matured mentally. I’m excited to see him run.”

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Mattine will saddle One More Brew, a son of Milwaukee Brew who rallied for third before galloping out on top in his July 31 opener.

“He broke a little slowly,” Mattine recalled, “but he ran on end and galloped out really strong, indicating that he would probably get the [longer] distance and should improve off that race. He’s doing really well. It’s a nice purse to run for, and we’re hoping he can come up with a big effort.”

Simon will saddle Crimson Comet and Twin City.

Crimson Comet raced three wide when fourth in his five-furlong debut July 10.

“He’s a colt who is steadily improving,” Simon said. “That first race was probably much too short for what he’s going to do in his career.”

Twin City tracked the leaders on the outside before getting up for second behind favored Chiseler in his encouraging opener on July 17.

“It was a nice second, and he seems to be an improving horse,” Simon said. “He’ll like the distance and to go further. I think he’ll run well.”

◗ Just five 3-year-old fillies entered the $100,000 Algoma, including the Mark Casse-trained supplement Baksheesh, who should be favored in her seasonal bow. The Algoma is a seven-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies.

Baksheesh was victorious in the 2021 Muskoka. She subsequently finished eighth in the Grade 1 Natalma, fourth behind Moira in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes, and second in an allowance.