Nijinsky Stakes a virtual sprint for Kaigun

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Kaigun returns to Woodbine for the first time since last season’s Grade 1 Canadian International when he takes on four rivals in Sunday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Nijinsky Stakes over 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Kaigun cuts back significantly in distance from the two-mile Belmont Gold Cup on June 10, when he finished ninth of 12. He has not run in a race shorter than 1 3/8 miles since the Woodbine Mile last September. Kaigun finished second four consecutive times during that run of long-distance turf races before winning the Grade 2 Pan American Stakes over 1 1/2 miles at Gulfstream Park on April 2.

Trainer Mark Casse said he’s looking to get Kaigun back on a winning track in the Nijinsky.

“We gave him a little bit of a break, and we’re getting him back and trying to find a winning spot,” he said. “He’s had some success on the Woodbine turf course, so I thought that might be a good place to get him started.”

Key Contenders

Kaigun, by Northern Afleet

Last 3 Beyers: 89-97-99

◗ The cutback in distance should not be a concern for Kaigun, who’s won at seven furlongs to 1 1/2 miles on turf.

Up With the Birds, by Stormy Atlantic

Last 3 Beyers: 93-97-90

◗ The 2013 Canadian Horse of the Year is back with Malcolm Pierce, who trained him earlier in his career. Graham Motion had trained him during 2015 and for the first half of this year.

◗ Up With the Birds also has had success on the Woodbine turf. He ran second in last year’s Canadian International and won the Nijinsky back in 2014.

Dynamic Sky, by Sky Mesa

Last 3 Beyers: 79-93-87

◗ Dynamic Sky will make his first start since finishing fifth in the Grade 3 Louisville Handicap at Churchill Downs on May 21 and could find himself controlling the race on the front end under Gary Boulanger.

Button Down, by Oasis Dream

Last 3 Beyers: 83-90-95

◗ She’ll face males for the first time in North America, although she ran with males several times in England.

◗ She finished second in the Grade 2 Canadian Stakes here and won the Grade 3 Cardinal Handicap at Churchill Downs at this distance last season. Both of those races were run on yielding turf.

Halo Nation, by Blame

Last 3 Beyers: 85-83-76

◗ He has been running in starter-allowance races in Kentucky and makes his graded-stakes debut in the Nijinsky.

◗ Trainer Conor Murphy has won a pair of graded stakes at the meet with Dimension.

Conquest Daddyo in Toronto Cup

Earlier on the card, Conquest Daddyo will look to build off his third-place finish to stablemate Conquest Enforcer in the Charlie Barley Stakes on July 3 when he runs in the $125,000 Toronto Cup Stakes over 1 1/8 miles on turf. The Toronto Cup is for 3-year-olds and drew a field of six.

Trainer Casse said Conquest Daddyo will use the Toronto Cup as a prep for the $500,000 Breeders’ Stakes, the final jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown, which will be run over 1 1/2 miles on turf Aug. 21.

Conquest Daddyo came with a strong late run under jockey Joel Rosario in the Charlie Barley, but Casse said Rosario was missing a key piece of equipment during the race.

“[Conquest Daddyo] ran better than people probably realize,” he said. “Joel lost the stick coming out of the gate, and he ran the entire race without it.”

Stablemate Conquest Windycity joins Conquest Daddyo in the field for the Toronto Cup. Completing the field are Grade 3 Marine Stakes winner Thatlookonyerface, who will try turf for the first time; Charlie Barley fourth-place finisher Dragon Bay; Rocket Plan, who exits an eighth-place finish in the Queen’s Plate; and Runningfromthefeds, who looks to be a pace threat.