Gierkink's preview: 'Niigon' entry formidable

The fourth race on the card kicks off the pick four, which has a guaranteed pool of $100,000. The Chiefswood Stable entry (2-1) of Niigon Express and Niigon’s Glory should give those looking for a single a powerful one-two punch if both of them start in the route, which combines Ontario-sired allowance and $40,000 non-winners-of-three claimers. Both are sons of the deceased Queen’s Plate winner Niigon, who was campaigned by Chiefswood.

The Paul Attard-trained Niigon Express competed in two-thirds of this year’s Canadian Triple Crown, finishing fifth in the Queen’s Plate and a troubled sixth in the Breeders’ Stakes on the grass. A mile and a sixteenth on the Polytrack might be his best trip, and a red-hot Patrick Husbands will ride him again.

Niigon’s Glory, a 4-year-old trained by Rachel Halden, has worked extensively since ending up second for the fifth straight time in Ontario-sired allowance company Aug. 13. The classy dropper Turkish was allowed to set pedestrian fractions when he beat Niigon’s Glory by five lengths that day. This is a bigger and much deeper field.

Beyers point out potential single

Weekend in Malibu (2-1) sticks out on Beyer Speed Figures in the fifth, a six-furlong maiden special for Ontario-sired 2-year-old fillies. She earned a 60 Beyer when second at first asking in an identical spot Aug. 16, after which she galloped out strongly.

Leading rider Husbands retains the mount on Weekend in Malibu for trainer Catherine Day Phillips, who has worked the daughter of hot juvenile sire Old Forester three times since her opener.

The next-highest Beyer in the lineup is the 54 that Radiant Star (8-1) got for finishing a respectable fifth in the Aug. 27 Muskoka Stakes, during which she raced wide over a rail-favoring track.

Modus Operandi (10-1) was bet down to 2-1 favoritism before bombing at first asking in a seven-furlong maiden special Aug. 31. The Mark Casse-trained daughter of Marchfield is a wake-up prospect with blinkers on.

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Casse is 0 for 8 with maiden 2-year-old second-timers adding blinkers over the past five years. Five of those runners (63 percent) hit the board.

Miss Sea (4-1) wound up second behind an impressive runaway winner when she debuted in a five-furlong maiden special Aug. 23. The daughter of Marchfield is bred to run long, and will start from the dreaded one-hole. She’s probably a few races away from earning her diploma.

Horses to watch

KEEN GIZMO

Trainer: Josie Carroll
Last race: Sept. 20, 10th
Finish: 4th by 3 1/4
Beyer: 68

He was bet down to favoritism in a 14-horse allowance field going long, and encountered major traffic problems in the lane before making up some ground in the final sixteenth.

LEADING EDGE

Trainer: Paul Attard
Last race: Sept. 21, 2nd
Finish: 1st by 3/4
Beyer: 40

The striking gray/roan was quite professional when she stretched out for her second start, saving ground in a stalking position before going in for the kill. The 2-year-old daughter of leading sire Tapit is out of Grade 2 Canadian Stakes winner Essential Edge.