'Canadian Million' Races Set for Woodbine

Six stakes to showcase Canadian-breds purchased at previous Canadian premier yearling sales are set for Aug. 31 at Woodbine, on a night billed as the Canadian Million Sales Stakes.

The stakes, sponsored by Ontario Lottery and Gaming and worth a combined $900,000, feature 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds and older in races on both Tapeta and turf.

The 6 1/2-furlong, $200,000 OLG Muskoka Presented by Ken and Sarah Ramsey's We Miss Artie, has attracted 14 2-year-old fillies. Topping the field is Hopping Not Hoping, a dark bay daughter of Silent Name   trained by Barb Minshall for owners Murray Smith, Christopher Chop, and Katharin Von Gavel. Last time out, Hopping Not Hoping captured the 6 1/2-furlong Shady Well Stakes over a yielding course.

The $200,000 OLG Simcoe Presented by Samuel, Son and Co., for 2-year-old males over 6 1/2 furlongs furlongs on Tapeta drew a field eight, as Lokinforpursemonee and Pachi Cruze will continue their rivalry. Lokinforpursemonee finished second in his debut to Pachi Cruze in the 5 1/2-furlong Frost King Stakes. Pachi Cruze has made his last two starts at Woodbine. He won the Frost King and finished well back last time out in the Vandal on yielding turf.

The $125,000 OLG Halton Presented by Tipperary Equestrian, for 3-year-olds and older, has attracted a field of seven for the one-mile turf contest. Hampstead Heath will look to win his third straight Halton, but will have to topple a salty group that includes graded stakes winners Dynamic Sky, trained by Mark Casse for John Oxley, and Aldous Snow, trained by Malcolm Pierce for owner-breeder Sam-Son Farm.

 

The $125,000 OLG Elgin Stakes Presented by Bear Stables, for colts and geldings 3 and older, will be run at 1 1/16 miles over the Woodbine main track. The five-horse field is headed by Melmich, who was a two-length winner in the Elgin last season. Melmich, a 5-year-old son of Wilko   bred in Ontario by Andrew Stronach, won six of his eight starts in 2015 for trainer Kevin Attard and owners Stephen Chesney and Cory Hoffman. 

The six-furlong, $125,000 OLG Kenora Presented by HBPA of Ontario, for 3-year-olds and older, attracted nine starters for the Tapeta stakes, including defending winner Rexton for trainer John Mattine and owners RCC Racing Stable and Rocco Forgione. A talented group includes recent Ballade Stakes winner River Maid, a filly, trained by Robert Tiller for The Very Dry Stable

Seven fillies and mares will contest the 1 1/16-mile, $125,000 OLG Algoma Presented by Adena Springs Canada on the Tapeta track. Galina Point will look to avenge her loss in last year's Algoma, when she was defeated by a narrow nose by Brooklynsway.The Saffir bay, trained by Casse for owner Gary Barber, owns a record of 3-8-2 from 19 starts.  

First-race post time on the eight-race card is 6:45 p.m. ET.

The 2016 Canadian premier yearling sale is set for Sept. 1 in the Woodbine sales pavilion.