The $125,000 Elgin Stakes, presented by Bear Stables, was a test of endurance, as Stephen Chesney and Corey Hoffman’s Melmich outlasted the Sovereign Award-winning Pender Harbour in the 1 1/16 mile Polytrack event.
Breaking clean from the gate, Melmich and Pender Harbour were never challenged by Millioninthemaking and Urban Forester, in a compact four-horse field. Posting fractions of 24:82 and 49:38, the pair dueled hard all the way to the quarter pole.
Running six furlongs in 1:12:85, veteran rider Eurico Rosa da Silva let the chestnut go, as Melmich opened up his lead by a length down the stretch and clearing Pender Harbour by a total of two lengths at the wire. Melmich stopped the clock in a final running time of 1:43.25.
“My horse is a very game horse” said da Silva. “He’s a small horse but he gives me his best every time.”
Trained by Kevin Attard, Melmich was bred in Ontario by Andrew Stronach. He paid $4.50 to win, combining with Pender Harbour for a $5.60 (2-1) exactor.
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