ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Mr Havercamp will prep for next month’s Grade 1 Woodbine Mile in Saturday’s $175,000 Play the King Stakes, a seven-furlong turf sprint that carries Grade 2 status. Mr Havercamp was a Sovereign Award finalist for Canadian champion male 3-year-old in 2017. He launched his current campaign with an impressive victory against Ontario-sired opposition in the 1 1/16-mile Steady Growth Stakes on the Tapeta here June 16. Mr Havercamp met some formidable opposition most recently at Belmont in the one-mile Forbidden Apple, which read more like a Grade 2 event than an ungraded stakes. After saving ground, he finished just two lengths back in fourth behind Voodoo Song, who subsequently doubled up in the Grade 1 Fourstardave at Saratoga. Trainer Catherine Day Phillips felt that Mr Havercamp ran greenly last time out. “He was looking around a little bit,” Day Phillips recalled. “He was next to Disco Partner, who’s gray, and he seemed to be staring at him. He’s more comfortable here. He knows this track better.” KEY CONTENDERS Mr Havercamp, by Court Vision Last 3 Beyers: 98-95-92 ◗ There has been considerable rain at Woodbine this week, and he is shortening up to compete over what might be giving ground. “I don’t think we know his exact limitations,” Day Phillips said. “He’s run well on hard turf and on turf with a bit of give in it. I don’t even know what his ideal distance is. I’m thinking around a mile, but I think seven-eighths is a good stepping-stone to the Woodbine Mile.” La Sardane, by Kingsalsa Last 3 Beyers: 92-92-84 ◗ A Group 2 winner in France, she won her last three starts on this side of the pond, including the Grade 3 Intercontinental over seven furlongs at Belmont. Her trainer, Neil Drysdale, has won the Woodbine Mile three times. “We feel she’s very suited to a one-turn race,” Drysdale said. “If she runs well in the Play the King, she can stay and run in the [Woodbine] Mile. She’s holding her weight, and she has trained well.” White Flag, by War Front Last 3 Beyers: 95-94-84 ◗ Trained by Christophe Clement, the shipper won a third-level optional claimer at Belmont in July. He was third over soft ground in the Grade 2 Nearctic here last October. Inaugural Catch a Glimpse Stakes The inaugural running of the $100,000 Catch a Glimpse, a six-furlong turf stakes for 2-year-old fillies, is the supporting feature on Saturday’s 10-race program. My Gal Betty lost the July 7 My Dear Stakes by disqualification to Presque Isle invader Stifling, and they will meet again here while facing the turf winners Bold Script and Lady Azalea. Mark Casse, who trained 2015 Canadian Horse of the Year Catch a Glimpse, entered Eyeinthesky, Limonaia, and Si Si Tequila.