Pender Harbour tries to rebound on Canadian Millions Sales Stakes Day

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Millionaire Pender Harbour, a 2009 CTHS yearling sale graduate, appears to have found a nice spot in the $125,000 Elgin Stakes on Wednesday as part of Canadian Millions Sales Stakes Day at Woodbine.

Six stakes races worth a total $900,000 will be run during the course of the evening, and all races are restricted to CTHS yearling sales graduates. Post time for the eight-race card is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. Eastern.

Pender Harbour exits a fifth-place finish in the Grade 3 Seagram Cup last time out, a race that featured a slow early pace.

“His last race had a funny pace,” trainer Michael De Paulo said. “It was disappointing. We thought he’d run a little bit better, but we’re hoping for a better result on Wednesday night.”

Pender Harbour also was nominated to the $125,000 Halton Stakes at a mile on turf. He finished second in the Halton last year, but his connections have opted to keep him on the synthetic Polytrack for the Elgin.

“A mile is a little short for him on the grass,” De Paulo said. “He’s run some good races on it, but we thought that we’re on Poly, so we might as well stick to it. Two turns is better for him.”

ELGIN STAKES (RACE 3)

KEY CONTENDERS

Pender Harbour (Last 3 Beyers: 86-93-93)

◗ Pender Harbour is a deserving even-money favorite in this field. Although he did not appreciate the slow pace in the Seagram Cup, he should have some speed to run at in this event.

Bobcaygeon (Last 3 Beyers: 78-78-75)

◗ He was fourth behind Pender Harbour in the Steady Growth Stakes at this distance in June when he earned an 84 Beyer Speed Figure but hasn’t run back to that number in three subsequent starts.

MUSKOKA STAKES (RACE 5)

KEY CONTENDERS

Quidi Vidi (Last 3 Beyers: 62-64-37)

◗ She romped by five lengths in an open maiden special weight event last time out at seven furlongs. She scratched out of the six-furlong Nandi Stakes to run in that race, and while some of her rivals exit the Nandi and stretch out, she’ll be cutting back in distance.

Mel’s Ring (Last 3 Beyers: 32-67-63)

◗ The filly was part of a frantic pace in the Nandi that led to her undoing. She should be able to get away with more reasonable fractions in this race, but whether her speed will carry the 6 1/2-furlong distance is the question.

SIMCOE STAKES (RACE 7)

KEY CONTENDERS

Super Colerosa (Last 2 Beyers: 63-56)

◗ He won his maiden in a key race last time out where the second- and third-place finishers have since come back to win.

◗ The outside post could impact his ability to get to the front, but he should have enough time to get in position before the turn.

Phil’s Cocktail (Last 2 Beyers: 53-50)

◗ He was second behind Super Colerosa in his career debut and came back to win his second start. His workout times since that maiden win look strong.

Also on the card:

◗ Aragorn Ami, undefeated in two career starts, will start for the first time since winning the Martha Washington Stakes at Oaklawn Park in February in the $125,000 Algoma Stakes. Trainer Josie Carroll sent out Leigh Court in Sunday’s Grade 3 Seaway Stakes, and she was well prepared to win by 2 1/2 lengths after a 10-month layoff.

Aragorn Ami will face Sweater Weather, the Eternal Search winner who is unbeaten in two starts at 1 1/16 miles on Polytrack, and Skylander Girl, who was second in the Wonder Where Stakes to Lexie Lou on turf last time out.

◗ Bear No Joke will try to repeat his win in the $125,000 Kenora Stakes at six furlongs on Polytrack. Bear No Joke tracked a rapid pace set by Black Hornet in last year’s Kenora and figures to get a similar setup in here from the rail. Bear No Joke, winner of last season’s Grade 2 Kennedy Road Stakes, has started in graded stakes company in his two starts this season and takes a drop in class for this event.

Black Hornet could the take the field all of the way, but other contenders who could benefit from the quick pace are Forester’s Destiny and Tap for Ami.

◗ Hampstead Heath will cut back in distance after a fifth-place finish in the 1 1/2-mile, Grade 3 Singspiel Stakes for the $125,000 Halton Stakes at a mile on grass. Hampstead Heath hasn’t won since May 2013, but he has posted good figures on the grass against graded stakes company, including an 89 Beyer in the Grade 3 Canadian Turf Stakes at a mile at Gulfstream Park in February.

Eminent Force woke up on the grass last time to win a second-level allowance event and appears to prefer firm footing. O Wanderlust has won two straight events on the turf in the claiming ranks and could make an impact.