Silk Lace and Golden Boy kicking off at The Loop

Stake harness racing season is beginning to heat up at Canada’s newest track, the Loop.

The first leg for the Golden Boy Stake and Silk Lace Stake is on Saturday’s (Sep. 2) program. The Golden Boy Stake is open to three-year-old Manitoba-sired colts and geldings, while the Silk Lace Stake is open to three-year-old Manitoba-sired fillies.

Race 4: SILK LACE STAKE – $7,671

1. AK NITE LADY 2-1
2. LITTLEBITTYBAYLOR 4-1
3. TOTAL POWER 5-1
4. PALMERS PUDDIN 7-1
5. AK BLACK BADGER 8-1
6. PIXIE CHICK 10-1
7. SHIRLEY SCOOTER 6-1
8. MACHING MILLIONS 3-1

Winning back-to-back races and having the fastest mile time of any field isn’t good enough to make Maching Millions (Andreoli Hanover) the morning line favourite. However, according to the odds maker, she does sit at 3-1 odds and is the second favourite. She won the Lady Crocus two weeks ago with a mile time of 2:04. Maching Millions followed that up with another victory in 2:01.4. Blake Piwniuk jumps aboard and will steer the filly for trainer Trevor Williams

The rail horse, AK Nite Lady (Andreoli Hanover), earned the title of morning line favourite at 2-1 odds. She has yet to win since July 15 at Miami Fair but has been finding ways to finish in the top three. AK Nite Lady finished second in the Futurity elimination and third in the Lady Crocus Stakes. Kevin Hildebrandt will be in charge of the reigns and will look to steer his young filly to her third straight sub-30-second final quarter.

Another surprise is Pixie Chick (Ambro Baylor) being the longest shot on the board, currently at 10-1. Just last week, she finished third and beat a couple of fillies that came in with better morning line odds. The young filly has yet to find the winner’s circle, but she has slowly improved her mile time. Paula Mason will be in the bike for trainer Sherri Mason.

My Picks: 8-1-6-2

Race 6: GOLDEN BOY STAKE – $7,608

1. IRISH LUKE 2-1
2. BAYLOR BOBBY 3-1
3. AK EAGLE 5-1
4. SUPA FAST 6-1
5. FAN C THAT 7-1
6. BRAXTONS BOY 4-1

Irish Luke (Youshouldseemenow) has almost been perfect this year. He has won three of his four starts in 2023 and had one fourth-place hiccup during his first start at the Loop. He earned a new lifetime mark of 2:02.4 last week, which beat his previous best of 2:03.3. Irish Luke draws the rail and has Blake Piwniuk in the bike. It’s hard to imagine anything other than Irish Luke going wire-to-wire.

Another young colt that has almost been perfect in 2023 is Braxton Boy (Whosurboy). He has three wins in five starts and has never finished worse than second place. Braxton’s Boy also achieved a new lifetime mark last week and in 2:03.4. He does draw post position six, but that shouldn’t hurt his chances in this one. Michel Rey will handle driving duties on Saturday for trainer Richard Rey.

Baylor Bobby (Ambro Baylor) won the inaugural race at the Loop but has yet to find his way back there. However, he has been close to the top in his previous starts, consistently finishing in the top three. Clayton Braybrook will be in the bike with Baylor Bobby for the third straight weekend. The young trainer, Aidan Taggart, will be looking to continue his start this summer.

My Picks: 1-6-2-3

The Loop will be hosting racing on Saturday (Sep. 2) and Sunday (Sep. 3). Post time for both days is 2:00 p.m. CDT.

Leg 2 for the Silk Lace and Golden Boy Stakes will take place on Oct. 7 and the finals for both will be the following weekend on Oct. 14.

For complete Saturday race entries, click here.

For complete Sunday race entries, click here.

by Trey Colbeck, for Harnesslink