Gierkink's preview: Money Talks looks ready

Money Talks looks ready

Money Talks (5-2) returns from a freshening in the eighth, a $20,000 optional-claiming route, after running hot and cold in the spring. He just missed at this level May 10, and then finished a troubled fifth just nine days later in a much tougher spot, which was dominated by the next-out winners Air Blade and Hawk’s Well. He has worked three times leading up to this engagement, and seems poised to fire his best shot.

Money Talks is nominated to the $500,000 Prince of Wales Stakes, the third leg of the Canadian Triple Crown at Fort Erie on July 29. The 1 3/16-mile test figures to have a small field, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see him wheel back in there. His trainer, Bill Tharrenos, has had some success on the dirt at Fort Erie this year.

Race 6 a key pick-four race

The grass course should be in great shape after some rain early in the week.

Naevia (5-2) is a potential single in the pivotal sixth race, a $32,000 claimer on grass, which is the third leg of the early pick four and the first leg of the second one. She is exiting a wide fourth in a difficult $25,000 starter allowance won by Chedington, who came back to capture a second-level optional claimer with an 82 Beyer. The fly in the ointment is that this is Naevia's second start off a claim, and her trainer, Arthur Silvera, is 0 for 10 in such situations over the past five years, according to Formulator.

If you opt to go two deep in the sixth, consider the favored Inclusa, who’s seeking her third turf win in a row. Like most of the others, including Naevia, Inclusa is suspect over the 10-furlong distance.

Silent Star (3-1) heads the featured ninth, a $40,000 optional event at a mile on turf, in which the dropping favorite Two to Tango (5-2) seems vulnerable while running back six days after ending up fourth behind Chedington. It’s a rare move for trainer Brian Lynch, who is 1 for 2 with one- to seven-day comebackers during the last five years (both of those starters were at Fort Erie in 2011).

Clapham Heights (6-5) is a wild card in the other grass contest, the third, a $50,000 maiden claimer going seven furlongs. The 4-year-old is returning from a one-year layoff in his first start for red-hot trainer Nick Gonzalez, who won four races here last Sunday.

Horses to watch

CANTBEATTHESTORY
Trainer: Ashlee Brnjas
Last race: July 16, 3rd
Finish: 1st by 3/4
Beyer: 68
She came wide from post 13 to earn her diploma second time out on the grass in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special for Ontario-sired distaffers. The smooth-striding daughter of Sligo Bay is bred to run on, and could win right back against non-winners-of-two Ontario-sired allowance opposition.