Like What I See seeks third straight

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Like What I See will put his two-race win streak on the line when he stretches out around two turns for the first time in Sunday’s Grade 3, $125,000 Grey Stakes over 1 1/16 miles on Tapeta for 2-year-olds at Woodbine.

Like What I See is the most experienced horse in the field with five starts. He won his maiden two starts back over seven furlongs Aug. 20 on Tapeta before recording his first stakes win in the Colin Stakes in his most recent start Sept. 2.

“We found that he had been getting better with his races and getting more racing experience,” trainer Nick Gonzalez said. “Besides being overjoyed with him winning a stake, we kind of had a plan for him, and we’ve done it with a couple of other 2-year-olds in the past, winning a sprint stakes and going to the Grey, but I guess we’re just going to have to see if he can carry his speed that extra distance.”

KEY CONTENDERS

Like What I See, by Bold Warrior Last 3 Beyers: 70-64-58

◗ Gonzalez said Like What I See has been training well since the Colin Stakes, and he is hopeful that the horse will handle the stretch-out in distance.

“He came out of his race great. It boosted his confidence,” he said. “He’s got lots of experience now because he’s had four good 2-year-old races, and he’s good and fit. We’re just excited and looking forward to running around two turns because that’s going to answer a question regarding his future.” Peppered, by Tapizar Beyers: 81-48

◗ He was a dominant winner while stretching out around two turns for the first time in his most recent start Sept. 9, defeating open maiden special weight company by seven lengths under jockey Luis Contreras.

◗ He recorded another bullet work coming into this race, covering five furlongs in 59.60 seconds on the dirt training track last Sunday.

Piven, by Prospective Beyers: 69-59

◗ He defeated Peppered and another next-out winner, Wam Bam, in his career debut over five furlongs Aug. 13 before running second to Like What I See in the Colin Stakes.

◗ His sire won the Grey Stakes in 2011. Archaggelos, by Temple City Beyers: 66-51

◗ He ships up to Woodbine for trainer Michael Dickinson off a maiden win over 1 1/16 miles on turf Sept. 24 at Laurel Park.

◗ He’s one of three horses in the seven-horse field with twoturn experience.

Starter allowance for grays

Woodbine has branded Sunday as Grey Day. Along with the Grey Stakes, Woodbine will run a starter allowance restricted to registered gray or roan horses who have started for a claiming price of $20,000 or less in 2016-17. Hampstead Heath likely will be favored in the one-mile turf route, but Silver Sidney could pose a significant threat while facing males. Other key contenders include Fleetway, Arthur’s Pass, and Gray Phantom.