A field of 11 horses will contest this year’s rendition of the Gr.2 Nearctic Stakes. Run over turf at a distance of 6-furlongs, the Nearctic offers a $250,000 purse to three-year-olds and up. Chiefswood Stable’s Yorkton is the 5-2 morning-line favorite and will look to take on Mark Casse trainee Holding Gold at 7-2.

By Sean Alvarez

  TOP PICK #6 LADY ALEXANDRA (More Than Ready – Lophorina (GB), by King’s Best)

Running Style: Stalker
Trainer: Graham Motion
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Owner: Heider Family Stables LLC

Since coming into the Chad Brown barn, this filly ran two career best races sprinting on the turf at today’s distance. She looked to bounce off those efforts while pressing a fast pace on the synthetic surface in the Presque Isle Masters. She gets back to her preferred surface today and should sit a nice stalking trip in a race with unreliable speed horses to catch upfront.

  TOO HARD TO TOSS OUT #2 KITTEN’S CAT (Kitten’s Joy – Brushwork, by Discreet Cat)

Running Style: Mid-Pack
Trainer: Michael Maker
Jockey: Eurico Rosa Da Silva
Owner: Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey

While this colt has stakes placed races adding to his form, he has found his preferred races sprinting on the turf. Since he was shipped to Woodbine he has a win, two seconds, and a third in his 4 tries sprinting on this course. Eurico Da Silva rode this colt to his previous win and should be able to work out a trip today while coming from off the pace.

  #8 CONQUEST PANTHERA (Kitten’s Joy – Lastofthsummerwine, by Sky Mesa)

Running Style: Closer
Trainer: Mark Casse
Jockey: Joe Bravo
Owner: Gary Barber

This gelding looks to be the class of this race. Not only has he been running in graded stakes races, he has also run well consistently. While he has not found the winner’s circle in over a year, this will be the first time Joe Bravo rides this gelding, and he has plenty of pace to run at. Bravo will need to work out a trip today, but he has one of the best internal clocks and knows when to push the button.

  TOSS!! #10 SWEET LITTLE MAN (Jazil – Honey Treat, by Wild Rush)

Running Style: Mid-Pack
Trainer: Jim Ensom
Jockey: Luis Contreras
Owner: Joey Gee Thoroughbreds

This gelding has a preferred running style for this turf sprint and has been running well over this surface. Today marks his fifth race in just over 2 months and that is an angle I stay far away from. It is only a matter of time before the amount of races in such a short time catches up with him.

  #3 YORKTON (Speightstown – Sunday Affair, by AP Indy)

Running Style: Leader
Trainer: Stuart Simon
Jockey: Jesse Campbell
Owner: Chiefswood Stable

This colt has one way to go and that is straight to the front at full speed. When he gets a clear lead he is very tough to catch, but when pressed he tends to fold late. There is other speed signed up to his outside and they should press him all the way around the track. This could be an exciting race at the halfway point for his backers, but I think that is where he will throw the towel in.

  LONGSHOT PLAY #5 BUSHROD (Grey Memo – Blue Ice Shark, by Moscow Ballet)

Running Style: Stalker
Trainer: Judd Becker
Jockey: Adam Beschizza
Owner: Tim Rosin and Judd Becker

This gelding is coming off of 3 straight wins. He has never been over this turf course or raced at today’s distance, so I think he could be ignored by the bettors. While most of his races have come at a shorter distance, he actually ran, and won, at a slightly longer distance last time out.

 

Additional Pattison Canadian International Card Handicapping Guides:
Gr.1 Pattison Canadian International Stakes
Gr.1 EP Taylor Stakes
Gr.3 Ontario Derby
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