Jacques Cartier Stakes not ideal distance for Delegation

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Most would agree that Delegation is the best horse in Sunday’s $125,000 Jacques Cartier Stakes at Woodbine, but is he vulnerable in the six-furlong dash for older runners?

Delegation found his niche as a front-running router in 2013, when he took the Grade 3 Dominion Day Stakes by nine lengths with a giant 110 Beyer Speed Figure and the allowance prep for the Eclipse Stakes with a 104 Beyer.

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Delegation did run hot and cold last year but had some excuses along the way. He hasn’t started since finishing up the track as the favorite in the Grade 3 Durham Cup Stakes here in October.

“He got hurt in his last start at Woodbine last year,” trainer Mark Casse said. “He had a minor operation. Three-quarters is not really his best game, but he’s come back and trained really well. He’s on target for this weekend.”

Patrick Husbands has the mount on Delegation, a Sovereign Award finalist in the Canadian champion older male division last year.

Handicappers looking for a racing-fit runner should consider Really Sharp, who brings improving allowance form at Gulfstream to his first stakes engagement in a while.

Really Sharp had been idle for a year when he returned with a fading fifth-place finish on dirt Feb. 2. In his next two starts, both going five-eighths on grass, he rallied for third and ran evenly for second.

“He missed all of last year, basically because he fractured a cannon bone,” trainer Ian Black said. “The first race back going three-quarters, he broke really sharp. They went a half in 44, which [did him in]. The next time, he didn’t break as sharp and got bothered three jumps out of the gate, but he made up a huge amount of ground and closed really strongly. They went fast up front, which helped.

“The last race, he looked like he was in a spot where he should have won, but speed on that turf is [effective]. If somebody gets free on the lead, they’re very difficult to catch, and I guess that’s what happened to us.”

Trainer Reade Baker entered Sharp Sensation and Go Blue Or Go Home, who was cross-entered in the Grade 3 Shakertown at Keeneland on Saturday. Both are owned by Jim and Susan Hill.

Sharp Sensation got the winter off after crushing first-level allowance opposition over six furlongs here Dec. 14, when he earned a 101 Beyer. A lightly raced 4-year-old, Sharp Sensation has been working fast at Keeneland and could shake loose on the lead.

Go Blue Or Go Home evolved into one of the leading sprinters here last year, winning the Grade 3 Highlander Stakes.