Cyclogenisis Ships North for Nearctic Stakes

Matthew Schera's Cyclogenisis, who was on the also-eligible list for an Oct. 3 off-the-turf stakes at Keeneland, won't have that problem Oct. 18 as he is one of 11 entered in the $300,000 Nearctic Stakes (Can-IIT) at six furlongs on the turf at Woodbine.

The Nearctic, for 3-year-olds and up, is one of several major stakes on the Sunday program. It's scheduled as the 4th race with a post time of 2:42 p.m. EDT.

Trained by George Weaver, Cyclogenisis, by Stormy Atlantic  , won the first three starts of his career. Last year he broke his maiden in a turf sprint at Saratoga Race Course and won the Laurel Futurity, also a turf sprint. The 3-year-old colt, in his first start of 2015, won the Tom Ridge Stakes at six furlongs on the synthetic Tapeta surface at Presque Isle Downs & Casino before an uneventful trip to England, where he finished fourth in the group I Commonwealth Cup at the Royal Ascot meet.

In his last start Aug. 6, Cyclogenisis encountered some traffic in the stretch and finished a close fourth in the Quick Call Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs on the grass at Saratoga. John Velazquez, who has ridden him in his last two starts, has a return call at 116 pounds from post 2.

The Great War, who finished second in the Quick Call behind next-time-out winner Ready for Rye, drew post 7 in the Nearctic for owners Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, and Allen Stable. The 3-year-old War Front   colt will be ridden by Joel Rosario for trainer Wesley Ward.

The Great War, a multiple turf sprint winner as a 2-year-old in Ireland, was being pointed to the Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati Spiral Stakes (gr. III) at Turfway Park but was sidetracked after a 10th-place finish in the Feb. 28 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes, in which he bled. The Quick Call was his first race since then, and he has been training well at Keeneland.