Something Extra, whose theft effort came up just shy last time out in the Connaught Cup (Can-IIT), shortens up a bit in distance for his return to the Woodbine turf in the $200,000 Highlander Stakes Presented by Pizzaville (Can-IIT) July 6.
The 6-year-old son of Indian Charlie is the 9-5 morning line favorite in Sunday's six-furlong grass test, race 10 on the Queen's Plate undercard with a scheduled post time of 4:53 p.m. EDT. Ten older horses are entered with 2013 Sovereign Award-winning sprinter Phil's Dream to carry top weight of 126 pounds.
Something Extra, who won the seven-furlong Connaught Cup in 2013 before weakening to seventh in the Highlander, is assigned 123 pounds. In this year's renewal of the Connaught Cup May 31, Something Extra led from the start before being overhauled late by Excaper, losing by a half-length.
Gail Cox trains and also co-owns the dark bay gelding along with John Menary. A seven-time winner with 12 placings from 24 lifetime starts and earnings of $629,899, Something Extra will be ridden once again by Eurico Rosa Da Silva. They will break running from the inside post.
Though he has done most of his work on Woodbine's Polytrack, Phil's Dream is 2-for-2 on the turf at the Canadian track including a two-length tally in last fall's Nearctic Stakes (Can-IT). The 6-year-old has been exceptional since returning from more than a year's layoff in April 2013. He was won nine of his past 12 starts for trainer Paul Buttigieg, who also bred and owns the Philanthropist gelding.
Regular rider Justin Stein will be aboard the 5-2 second choice, leaving from post 3. Phil's Dream has won his past two starts this season, including the Ontario Jockey Club Stakes June 21 on the Polytrack.
Tim O'Donohue's Mr. Online, a game fourth in the Connaught Cup, gains the services of 2013 Eclipse Award-winning rider Javier Castellano. The 5-year-old Silent Name gelding was second to Phil's Dream in last October's Nearctic. He seeks a breakthrough win for trainer Michael Pino after losing by a neck in both the Canadian and Appleton stakes (both gr. III) at Gulfstream Park prior to the Connaught Cup.
Stormy Rush, a back-to-back winner at Gulfstream this spring for trainer Lorne Richards and True North Stable, looks to rebound from a fifth-place effort in the listed Pennsylvania Governor's Cup May 31 at Penn National Race Course. Patrick Husbands takes the call on the 6-year-old Stormy Atlantic gelding.
Though not in their best form of late, graded stakes winners Havelock and Occasional View should not be ignored from off the pace in a field that appears to have plenty of speed.
$200,000 Highlander Stakes (Can-IIT, Race 10, 4:53 p.m.), 3 & Up, 6 Furlongs (Turf)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer, ML Odds
1. Something Extra (KY), E R Da Silva, 123, G Cox, 9/5
2. Occasional View (ON), J R Leparoux, 121, K G McPeek, 10/1
3. Phil's Dream (ON), J Stein, 126, P M Buttigieg, 5/2
4. Lockout (KY), G Boulanger, 117, M E Casse, 12/1
5. Stormy Rush (KY), P Husbands, 117, L Richards, 8/1
6. Sparrowhawk (ON), G Olguin, 117, T R Bowden, 30/1
7. Bear No Joke (ON), E Wilson, 123, R Baker, 20/1
8. Awesome Eclipse (FL), S Ryan, 117, R B Raghunath, 20/1
9. Mr. Online (ON), J Castellano, 119, M V Pino, 6/1
10. Havelock (MD), L Contreras, 121, D Miller, 10/1
Something Extra is the 9-5 morning line favorite in the Highlander Stakes.
Michael Burns