Gierkink's preview: Breeders' prep?

High-quality allowance

Go Bro, the runner-up in last year’s Grade 2 Summer Stakes, is the 5-2 morning line favorite in the sixth, a 1 1/16-mile entry-level allowance on the grass. Go Bro had been idle for 10 months when he rallied strongly on the outside to graduate in a seven-furlong maiden special July 13, and another strong showing here could punch his ticket to the $500,000 Breeders’ Stakes, the third leg of the Canadian Triple Crown here Aug. 17.

Another protagonist in the nine-horse field is Speightsland, who lost the July 5 Charlie Barley Stakes by a nose in his initial turf start, which was also his first venture outside the maiden ranks. Don’t expect him to be as high as his 6-1 morning line quote.
The improving Man Cave (8-1) could also run back in the 12-furlong Breeders’.

Bel Air Bullet (8-1) recently shipped in from Kentucky, and his new trainer, Barb Minshall, sent out Stacked Deck to win the Charlie Barley for this owner.

Formulator fact: Minshall has an impressive 26 percent strike rate with horses making their first start for her over the past five years ($8.09 ROI).

Casse strong in turf feature

Leading trainer Mark Casse sends out the favorites Industrial Policy and Sky High Lady in the 11-furlong allowance prep for the Aug. 23 Flaming Page Stakes.

Industrial Policy (6-5) is experimenting over a longer distance off a troubled fifth finish going about nine furlongs in the Grade 2 Dance Smartly Stakes. Patrick Husbands picks up the mount on the 4-year-old, who’s making her second start for Casse.

Sky High Lady (3-1) wound up second behind the heavily favored Left a Message in last year’s Flaming Page. She went on to take the River Memories before a wide third-place finish in another Polytrack stakes, the Grade 3 Maple Leaf. Her lone effort this year in a May 24 allowance was poor, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see her rebound following a freshening and a rider change to Luis Contreras.

Jackpot Hi 5 carryover building

The Jackpot Hi 5 carryover heading into the finale is $93,547.

Good Answer (3-1) is the one to beat in the $8,000 conditioned claimer. He wound up second his last two excursions at this level, including when the elements were against him May 31. He dropped a nose decision after mounting a wide rally June 24, and has since worked twice for trainer Catherine Day Phillips.

Horses to Watch

BUG’S GIRL
Trainer: John LeBlanc Jr.
Last race: July 30, 2nd
Finish: 2nd by 5 1/2
Beyer: 48
Normally a front-runner, she raced in fifth on the backstretch after bobbling at the break, and then mounted a wide rally to finish a clear second in a five-furlong dash for $20,000 non-winners-of-two stock.