Wednesday night’s Canadian Millions Sales Stakes program at Woodbine was highlighted by a pair of scores for jockey Rafael Hernandez and a stirring effort by Melmich to defend his OLG Elgin title.
The lucrative card, restricted to horses entered in past local Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (CTHS) Yearling Sales, featured six stakes worth $900,000 in total.
Among the night’s notable results, Hernandez kicked off the card in style with a 9-1 score aboard Strut N Stomp in the $125,000 OLG Halton Stakes, presented by Tipperary Equestrian. He notched his second win of six added-money tilts on the card just two races later when he guided Jacks Escarpment to victory in the $125,000 OLG Kenora Stakes, presented by HBPA of Ontario.
Melmich, a multiple graded stakes winner, put in a powerful performance to defend his Elgin title in a field reduced to just three horses after scratches. With leading rider Eurico Rosa da Silva up, Melmich stalked the early foot of Kingsport in the 1 1/16-mile route, and had plenty in the tank to secure his second Elgin.
Aside from Hernandez, four different jockeys won a stake: Eurico Rosa da Silva, Patrick Husbands, Gary Boulanger and Jermaine Bridghohan.
Six different trainers, Don MacRae, Kevin Attard, Nick Gonzalez, Steve Owens, John Ross and Robert Tiller made a trip to the winner’s circle.
The following are recaps of the evening’s stakes events.
Strut N Stomp rallies to OLG Halton score
Strut N Stomp arrived in the final stride to win a dramatic photo finish over Eminent Force in the $125,000 OLG Halton Stakes, presented by Tipperary Equestrian, to kick off Wednesday night’s Canadian Millions card, at Woodbine.
Trained by Don MacRae for owners Michael Lay, Mike Loughry and D-Mac Racing Stable, the dark bay son of Strut the Stage, bred in Ontario by Minshall Farms, arrived at the one-turn mile over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course from a more prominent winning effort in a turf allowance on July 8.
Sent to post at odds of 9-1 under Rafael Hernandez, Strut N Stomp loomed full of run behind Hampstead Heath and Ethical Funds and made a winning move to split those rivals and overtake the front-running Eminent Force in the last jump for a nose win. Strut N Stomp covered the mile in 1:36.09.
Strut N Stomp, a four-year-old gelding, was claimed for $40,000 on June 10 and was making just his second start for new connections.
“We were screaming real loud and cheering down the lane. It was a great experience and I’m very happy for my owners,” said MacRae, who hopes to be active at Thursday’s Canadian Premier Yearling Sale. “We’re trying to reinvest. That’s what we need to do in this game right now is get more horses into it.”
He paid $20.50, $10.10 and $4.80, combining with Eminent Force ($17.50, $7.30) for a $261.50 (7-1) exactor. A 7-1-5 triactor (Hampstead Heath, $2.80 to show) was worth $1221.70, while a $1 Superfecta [7-1-5-2 (Aldous Snow)] came back $2117.55.
Melmich hits the OLG Elgin jackpot again
Multiple graded stakes winner Melmich defended his title courtesy of a gutsy effort in taking the $125,000 OLG Elgin Stakes, presented by Bear Stables.
It was Kingsport who seized the lead at the outset, as Melmich, under Eurico Rosa da Silva, kept close tabs on his rival. It was status quo after opening splits of :25.92 and :50.39, as Freitag, with Emma-Jayne Wilson in the irons, was kept in prime position to mount a late surge.
The chess match between Melmich and Kingsport continued through six panels in 1:13:76, as da Silva asked the diminutive chestnut for his best. The pair drove to the lead in early stretch before holding off a rallying Freitag by a half-length.
Melmich covered the 1 1/16 miles on the Tapeta in 1:44.43.
Owned by Stephen Chesney and Cory Hoffman, the five-year-old gelded son of Wilko recorded his 11th win from 24 starts, accompanied by five seconds and two thirds.
Melmich, bred in Ontario by Andrew Stronach, returned $3.10 for the win. He combined with Freitag for a $6.70 exactor.
Jacks Escarpment earns first stakes score in OLG Kenora
John Caulfield’s Jacks Escarpment overtook a game and determined Rexton to capture Wednesday night’s $125,000 OLG Kenora Stakes, presented by HBPA of Ontario, at Woodbine.
Jacks Escarpment, usually the pacesetter, found a stalking approach successful in the Kenora. Last time out, the dark bay finished a game second to Kingsport in the Shepperton Stakes with Hernandez aboard for the first time.
“We were lucky with the draw. We had a good post position today with speed inside of us,” said Gonzalez. “Rafael told me an important thing after the last time he rode him. Even though he had a pressured pace and a horse inside him, he said, ‘Nick, if we get the right trip we could sit and stalk and pounce.'”
Bred in Ontario by William D. Graham, Jacks Escarpment provided Caulfield with his first stakes win. He banked $75,000 in victory while improving his record to 4-3-2 from 13 career starts.
Jacks Escarpment paid $7.50, $3.80 and $3.10, combining with River Maid ($3.50, $2.90) for a $24.70 (7-3) exactor. A 7-3-1 triactor (Rexton, $4.40 to show) was worth $100.10, while a $1 Superfecta [7-3-1-4 (Courtville)] came back $433.60.
Spring Tempest breaks maiden in style in OLG Muskoka
Sprint Tempest saved her best for last, rallying stoutly in the final strides under jockey Patrick Husbands to take the $200,000 OLG Muskoka Stakes, presented by Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s We Miss Artie, for two-year-old fillies.
Tulsa took control of the proceedings, leading the 13-horse field through an opening quarter-mile in :21.86 and a half-mile in :45.35.
It was a cavalry charge as the field straightened for home, but Spring Tempest was gearing up to spring the upset, gobbling up ground on the outside to notch a 3/4-length triumph in 1:18.10.
Spring Tempest was bred in Ontario by James A. Everatt, Janeane A. Everatt and J. Arika Everatt-Meeuse.
She paid $27.30, $15.50 and $7.10, combining with Green Freedom ($16.80, $7.10) for a $304.70 exactor. Raglan Road ($3.80) rounded out a $1,608.30 triactor.
Lokinforpursemonee finds it in OLG Simcoe
Lokinforpursemonee, sent to post as the prohibitive 2-5 mutuel favourite, collared Pachi Cruze late in the lane to win the $200,000 OLG Simcoe Stakes, presented by Samuel, Son & Co. Ltd, part of Wednesday night’s Canadian Millions card, at Woodbine.
Trained by John Ross for his J.R. Racing Stable, Lokinforpursemonee was looking for racing room under Gary Boulanger at the top of the lane, but once clear, the Silent Name bay surged impressively to overtake Frost King Stakes winner Pachi Cruze.
“He’s been a dynamite little horse. Trains well in the morning and does all the things that good horses do,” said Ross. “You can race him from behind and he goes through tight situations in the race and that’s what a classy horse does. We’re thrilled to have him in the barn.”
Lokinforpursemonee, bred in Ontario by Hill N Dale Farms, banked $125,000 in victory while improving his record to two wins from three starts.
He paid $2.80, $2.10 and $2.10, combining with Pachi Cruze ($3.20, $2.50) for a $7.60 (8-3) exactor. An 8-3-7 triactor (Blu Without You, $2.80 to show) was worth $23.60, while a $1 Superfecta [8-3-7-6 (Totally Unexpected)] came back $49.50. Royal Bullet was scratched.
OLG Algoma Stakes a perfect fit for Sweater Weather
Sweater Weather, patiently handled by Jermaine Bridgmohan, outdueled Galina Point in deep stretch to take the $125,000 OLG Algoma Stakes, presented by Adena Springs Canada, at Woodbine.
Longest shot on the board Garafraxa stormed to the lead and took her rivals through opening splits of :25.62 and :49.71, as Bridgmohan and Sweater Weather bided their time.
Rounding the turn for home, Galina Point, who lost a heartbreaker in last year’s Algoma, surged to the front, but was immediately engaged by Sweater Weather.
The duo duked it out down the lane, with Sweater Weather emerging a 3/4-length winner in a time of 1:45.13.
Bred by Osprey Stable, Sweater Weather has five wins from 18 career starts.
She paid $7.90, $3.70, $2.40, combining with Galina Point ($3.10, $2.10) for a $21.80 exactor. Trini Brewnette ($2.90) completed a $65.70 triactor.
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