Midnight Miley tries something different in Seaway Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The speedy router Midnight Miley will cut back to seven furlongs on Saturday in the Grade 3, $150,000 Seaway Stakes at Woodbine.

Midnight Miley struggled here last summer before trainer Julia Carey stretched her out on the Polytrack in the fall. She took the 1 1/16-mile La Lorgnette Stakes and then romped in the nine-furlong allowance prep for the Maple Leaf Stakes, earning a 90 Beyer Speed Figure.

Midnight Miley got the winter off after coming up empty in the Grade 3 Maple Leaf and was third off the layoff in the seven-furlong Sweet Briar Too Stakes here June 4. She ran out of her skin to win her last outing in the Grade 3 Ontario Matron on July 17. She opened up a substantial early lead in that race en route to a four-length tally under Rafael Hernandez.

Carey said she would have preferred to run Midnight Miley in the 1 1/16-mile Belle Mahone, an overnight stakes here Sept. 5, but was enticed into the Seaway because of the small field.

“This is graded,” Carey said. “It’s better that way, but all her good races are going two turns.”

Carey may have made the right move since there isn’t a true front-runner among the other five entrants.

Midnight Miley has been working right along. On Aug. 13, she breezed five-eighths on the Tapeta in a bullet 59.20 seconds.

“She’s doing great,” Carey said. “That’s why I was on the fence about the two races.”

The 10-race card also features the allowance prep for the Natalma Stakes. Last year, Catch a Glimpse graduated in the Natalma prep before going on to become Canada’s Horse of the Year.

KEY CONTENDERS

Midnight Miley, by Midnight Lute

Last 3 Beyers: 97-78-53

◗ California-based owner Little Red Feather Racing sent her to Woodbine because of her affinity for synthetic surfaces. Her record also includes an optional-claiming score on the Golden Gate Fields grass.

Charming Delilah, by Stephen Got Even

Last 3 Beyers: 86-82-79

◗ The seven-furlong expert notched her first stakes win in the Sweet Briar Too before dropping a neck decision on turf in the Zadracarta Stakes on July 1.

Cactus Kris, by Cactus Ridge

Last 3 Beyers: 91-89-96

◗ She often comes from her Presque Isle Downs base to plunder Woodbine. In May, she won the Grade 3 Hendrie Stakes here by five lengths, and she is exiting a wide fourth behind Lady Shipman in the Grade 3 Royal North here on turf.

Elusive Collection, by Elusive Quality

Last 3 Beyers: 91-91-88

◗ The comebacker ran three big races here in 2015 before a pair of fourth-place finishes in Gulfstream stakes early this year.

Norquay, by Fairbanks

Last 3 Beyers: 86-79-73

◗ The bargain $20,000 claim won a second-level optional claimer on grass in her last start.