Gierkink's preview: Jackpot Hi 5 carryover of $382,443

Wednesday, Sept. 10, preview

There will not be a mandatory payout on the Jackpot Hi 5 on Sunday’s Woodbine Mile card. Expect that to happen on Canadian International Day, Oct. 19, assuming that the tricky wager continues to carry over in the interim.

This nightcap, a $10,000 maiden claimer, drew 13 fillies and mares, including the 10-1 entry of Elegance Rules and Watch Bet C. Even though she’s exiting a subpar showing, Elegance Rules could have a say in the Jackpot Hi 5 outcome.

Saffron Sky (4-1) is the one to fear most off a runner-up placing for $16,000 to Grandma’s House, who came back to finish a bang-up second in a $40,000 conditioned claimer on the grass. The lightly raced Saffron Sky is finally getting to string two races together in this seven-furlong sprint. Eurico Rosa Da Silva retains the mount on her for leading trainer Mark Casse, who seems poised to have a productive week.

Harbour Beach (3-1) prevailed in a front-end battle before weakening late in each of her two most recent excursions. She should be the dominant speed horse, but somebody figures to challenge her for the lead, perhaps the 5-year-old Kittihawa (10-1), who’s a prospect for the lower rungs of the Jackpot.

Silent Auction (5-1) rallied wide from last to drop a nose decision when she cut back from a route to six furlongs in her latest, her first start with Emma-Jayne Wilson aboard. Her seven-furlong record is decent.

Sweet Starlet dropping

The venerable 7-year-old Sweet Starlet (2-1) is dropping off a third in a tough $50,000 claimer to $25,000 in the opener, a six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares. She is 10 for 33 lifetime, with most of those scores coming for owner/trainer Jim Ensom, who has won three races with her this year.

Marcian (7-2) should be prominent in her second start after a layoff, and Dreamy Moonlite (9-2) is eligible to rebound off a fade job on the grass, in her third race following a two-year absence.

Horses to watch

TRANSFORMATIVE

Trainer: Mark Casse
Last race: Sept. 7, 6th
Finish: 2nd by neck
Beyer: 46
This handsome 2-year-old by promising freshman sire Quality Road raced five wide while coming from midpack before giving way grudgingly to another wide/closing first-timer in a seven-furlong maiden special that was taken off the grass.

BIG BROWN BROOKSKI
Trainer: Kevin Attard
Last race: Sept. 6, 7th
Finish: 2nd by 1/2
Beyer: 80
She tracked a sizzling pace and then took control in the stretch before getting caught in the final strides in a valiant effort in a seven-furlong starter allowance. The Big Brown filly has run four strong races in as many starts on turf and Polytrack since getting claimed for a bargain $12,500 in June.