Gierkink’s preview: Yearling sales stakes extravaganza

Wednesday, Aug. 27, preview

Six stakes for graduates of local Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society yearling sales will be staged on an appealing eight-race card. The lone turf stakes is the second race, the one-mile Halton, which is headed by Hampstead Heath (5-2 morning line) and O Wanderlust (4-1). Lane 4 will be used on ground that should be firm.

Langstaff is cross-entered in the Halton (10-1) and the Kenora (6-1). This will be his first start off the $40,000 claim by trainer Scott Fairlie, who has a 23 percent strike rate with runners debuting off the claim going back five years, with a $2 return on investment.

The Kenora can be pared down to Bear No Joke and Black Hornet, who ran one-two in last year’s edition of the six-furlong sprint. Bear No Joke (2-1) has been idle since running ninth July 6 in the Grade 2 Highlander, a turf stakes in which he also missed the board last year before being freshened heading into his 2013 Kenora triumph. Black Hornet (5-2) failed to show much in his two outings this year, but his blazing early foot could carry him to victory if the track is kind to speed.

Millionaire Pender Harbour, Canada’s champion 3-year-old in 2011, is even-money in the 1 1/16-mile Elgin and deservedly so. The Mike DePaulo-trained 6-year-old is dropping off a fifth-place finish in the Grade 3 Seagram Cup Stakes, where he uncharacteristically pressed a sleepy pace before weakening. He has a pair of front-runners to chase here in Power Phil and Freitag. Bobcaygeon (5-2) could be along for second.

Aragorn Ami (2-1) is a viable single in the first leg of the pick four, the Algoma, at 1 1/16 miles for fillies and mares. The unbeaten 3-year-old has been sidelined since her daylight score in the Feb. 1 Martha Washington Stakes at Oaklawn Park, but should be ready to roll. Her hot stakes trainer Josie Carroll captured the Grade 3 Seaway here last Sunday with Leigh Court, who was returning from a layoff of nearly 10 months.

The aforementioned stakes are all worth $125,000, while the two juvenile stakes, the Muskoka and Simcoe, carry a purse of $200,000 apiece.
Nandi Stakes winner Eff Bee Eye (5-2) heads the Muskoka, but she’s no cinch in the 6 1/2-furlong test for fillies. Other contenders who should be used in the pick four are Quidi Vidi (3-1), Mel’s Ring (6-1), and Brooklynsway (9-2). The latter, a maiden, is sent out by owner-trainer John Ross, who won the 2013 Muskoka by disqualification with Lexie Lou, who took the Queen’s Plate and Woodbine Oaks this year.

After breaking from the outside post 12, Super Colerosa (5-2) will try to wire the field in the Simcoe, for colts and geldings. His main obstacle might be the 6 1/2-furlong distance.

Phil’s Cocktail (4-1) came wide for second in Super Colerosa’s four-length maiden triumph, before graduating over 11 rivals going six furlongs. His rail draw is a negative, but he should be a factor after blowing out three-eighths in a bullet 35 seconds Sunday under trainer John LeBlanc Jr.

Entwistle (5-1) lacked room along the inside on the turn before closing wide for second when he debuted in Phil’s Cocktail’s graduation. Field of Courage (8-1) and March to My Tune (20-1) also in are with a shot in the Simcoe.

Jackpot Hi 5 carryover at $264K

The Jackpot Hi 5 carryover is $264,871 heading into the eighth race, an Ontario-sired route for fillies and mares. Ninja Queen (7-2) seems poised to clear the nonwinners-of-two allowance condition, following back-to-back seconds on turf and Polytrack. She won her maiden going from turf to Polytrack last August for owner-trainer-breeder Jenny Creer.

Horse to watch

SHE’S NO MEENY
Trainer: Ralph Biamonte
Last race: Aug. 24, 5th
Finish: 2nd by 3 3/4
Beyer: 52
She was shuffled back along the inside heading into the turn before closing from midpack to finish behind the front-running favorite versus Ontario-sired maidens. The daughter of Giant Gizmo has been on the improve and should break through soon.