Millfleet's class hard to ignore

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Judging by the company he has been keeping, Millfleet is clearly the one to fear most in Sunday's $125,000 Bunty Lawless Stakes, a one-mile turf race for Ontario-sired runners.

After being checked on the turn, Millfleet finished third in the Grade 2 Play the King Stakes at seven furlongs in August. Top local miler Le Cinquieme Essai won that event over Becrux, who subsequently captured the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile.

Trainer Mike DePaulo said Millfleet was headstrong in the Play the King.

"He was trying to run over top of horses," DePaulo said. "He's very strong, and I guess he decided that it was time to go when he saw a hole, so off he went. He didn't care what was in front of him."

DePaulo said he believes the taxing effort caused Millfleet to bounce when he finished seventh in the restricted Overskate Stakes on the Polytrack on Sept. 20. But DePaulo said he is content with the way Millfleet has trained since then.

"He's doing real well," said DePaulo. "We gave him some time, and he's had a few good works. We're ready to go."

Millfleet won the 2004 Bunty Lawless and finished fifth in last year's renewal.

DePaulo also entered Another Ascot, who found new life after discovering the grass in the summer. He took a six-furlong allowance in August and defeated Ontario-sired 3-year-olds over soft ground in the one-mile Vice Regent Stakes on Sept. 3.

The allowance prep for the Bunty Lawless was not a restricted race, and Another Ascot finished seventh behind Sky Conqueror, who in his next start finished a troubled third in the Grade 1 Canadian International.

"That race was way tougher than this stakes," DePaulo said of the allowance prep. "He's a 3-year-old and still has some conditions left, but we're going to take a shot. He's doing well. Both my horses can handle soft going."

Sheer Enchantment and Top Ten List finished first and second against males in the restricted Halton Stakes over a mile Sept. 4.

Top Ten List, a front-runner with $461,974 in earnings, is entered in an upcoming Kentucky sale.

"She's in the Keeneland fall sale as a racing or breeding prospect," said trainer Bob Tiller. "If we don't get what we want for her, we'll bring her home."

Top Ten List has a win in five starts this year and has been lightly raced because of limited opportunities for her, according to Tiller.

"It's tough to find races for her on the grass," he said.