The Minkster Looks to Remain Perfect in Grey

The Minkster (English Channel) looks to take his record to three-for-three in Woodbine's GIII Grey S. Sunday. Romping by 6 1/4 lengths in his career bow on the Woodbine turf Oct. 2, the bay took to a route of ground with ease, capturing the nine-furlong Coronation Futurity S. on the synthetic here four weeks later.

Kevin Attard sends out two here in Hicksy (Hootenanny) and Be Like Clint (Point of Entry). A dominant second-out graduate on the local main track Oct. 3, Hicksy captured the Display S. at this oval Oct. 30. Be Like Clint earned his diploma at third asking in an off-the-turfer here Sept. 26 and was second in a track-and-trip optional claimer Nov. 6.

God of Love (Cupid) is one of three from the Mark Casse barn in this event. He broke his maiden at second asking in the grassy Cup and Saucer S. here Oct. 10 and rallied to be fifth in the Coronation Futurity. The chestnut is joined by stablemates On Thin Ice (More Than Ready) and Stowaway (Gun Runner).

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Attard Has Solid Options In Both The Grey And Mazarine Stakes On Sunday’s Card

A pair of $150,000 rookie stakes, the Grade 3 Grey and Grade 3 Mazarine, highlight Sunday's 12-race card at Woodbine.

The 1 1/16-mile Mazarine has attracted a field of nine 2-year-old fillies, including Moira, a daughter of Ghostzapper who had a stellar debut in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes on Oct. 23 at the Toronto oval.

With jockey Justin Stein at the controls, the Adena Springs-bred miss put in a stunning rally to win going away by 4 ¼-lengths in the 1 1/16-mile tilt. The final time was 1:44.63.

Trained by Kevin Attard for owners X-Men Racing LLC, Madaket Racing LLC and SF Racing LLC, Moira managed to surpass the conditioner's lofty pre-race expectations.

“She's a very nice filly,” said Attard, who is enjoying another prosperous campaign at the Toronto oval. “I was very keen even before we ran her. Obviously, to be running in a stake and going two-turns first-time out is a bit of a risky undertaking, but I thought it was a very calculated risk. I was confident in her and it worked out really well. I thought she looked pretty impressive. This race, the Mazarine, is open company and a big step up in class but she's trained really well in the interim and I'm really excited to see her continue to develop and possibly be a very nice horse.”

High-profile bloodstock agent and owner Donato Lanni was equally impressed by Moira's curtain-raising performance.

“I was not necessarily expecting that,” admitted Lanni. “I was at the Yearling Sale [in Kentucky] and we stopped looking at the horses and went into the bar there to watch her. I was really nervous because I didn't know a whole lot about her, but Kevin mentioned that the race was coming up and he didn't want to run her short. When he told me he wanted to run her in the stake, I was initially thinking, 'Are you kidding me?' He told me not to worry. That was it.

“When I was watching the race and saw her make that move, I was stunned for a bit after that. She was really impressive. Kevin is a good friend of mine and I've known him for 20-plus years, and he's a hell of a trainer. Him knowing about Moira ahead of that race is a great example of that.”

Lanni, a Montreal native who moved to Kentucky 25 years ago, will be at Woodbine along with other owners of the bay filly to watch her run in the Mazarine.

“I'm excited about going to Woodbine,” said Lanni. “I'm bringing some of the owners from Kentucky with me. It's going to be a good crowd of people and it's going to be a lot of fun to attend the races at Woodbine this late in the year. Some of these guys have never been to Woodbine, so they're pretty excited about going up there and seeing what it's all about and watching her race.”

Although the 2022 edition of the Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser is far down the road, Stein thought of the country's pre-eminent race for Canadian-foaled 3-year-old fillies just after the finish line in the Princess Elizabeth.

Those thoughts haven't changed.

“She was really impressive,” praised Stein. “Kevin thought she belonged in there and I rode her like she belonged in there. She ran better than I expected. It was pretty amazing for a first lifetime start. She looks the part, she behaves like it, and she ran like it. There's a lot of talent there.”

Among the past Princess Elizabeth winners who have gone on to take the Woodbine Oaks are Nipissing (2012), Roan Inish (2009), Ginger Gold (2001) and Dancethruthedawn (2000).

Attard and Lanni will also be represented in the 1 1/16-mile Grey, sending out Be Like Clint and Hicksy.

Bred in Kentucky by Woods Edge Farm and owned by the same connections as Moira, Be Like Clint is 1-1-1 from four starts and will contest his first career stakes race on Saturday.

The son of Point of Entry arrives at the Grey off a second-place finish in a 1/16-mile Tapeta race on November 6.

“I was a little disappointed in his last start,” said Attard. “He lost a little bit of ground around the turn and then regained some momentum and ran on to be second. He's a colt that still seems to be figuring things out, so we're hoping he takes another step in the right direction and shows a little bit more improvement.”

Hicksy, owned by Lanni through the Lanni Bloodstock LLC banner, heads into the Grey on a two-race win streak, including a three-quarter length score in the seven-furlong Display Stakes on October 30.

The son of Hootenanny, bred by Richard Forbush, debuted on Sept. 12 at Woodbine, finishing fourth in a 5 ½-furlong main track race.

“He's a very nice colt,” praised Attard. “He's won his last two races and is a stakes winner now. He's stretching out in distance for the first time. I don't think it's going to be an issue for him. He seems to be rateable. He has some early foot, and he can be positioned anywhere you need him to be. Hopefully, he's just good enough.”

$150,000 MAZARINE STAKES 

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Queen Judith – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Mark Casse
2 – Chocolateaddiction – Luis Contreras – Josie Carroll
3 – Mrs. Barbara – Rafael Hernandez – Mark Casse
4 – Kanta – Kazushi Kimura – Jonathan Thomas
5 – Guileful – Simon Husbands – Nathan Squires
6 – Moira – Justin Stein – Kevin Attard
7 – Aubrieta – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse
8 – Souper Hoity Toity – Gary Boulanger – Mark Casse
9 – Sake (FR) – Shaun Bridgmohan – Jean-Claude Rouget

 

$150,000 GREY STAKES 

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Heat Merchant – Gary Boulanger – Ralph Biamonte
2 – Speak Unity – Sahin Civaci – Norman McKnight
3 – Ironstone – Ademar Santos – Willie Armata
4 – Stowaway – Kazushi Kimura – Mark Casse
5 – Shamateur – Steven Bahen – Michael Doyle
6 – Be Like Clint – Justin Stein – Kevin Attard
7 – On Thin Ice – Kazushi Kimura – Mark Casse
8 – Churchtown – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Roger Attfield
9 – International – Shaun Bridgmohan – Jean-Claude Rouget
10 – God of Love – Rafael Hernandez – Mark Casse
11 – Hicksy – Antonio Gallardo – Kevin Attard
12 – The Minkster – David Moran – Daniel Vella

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Mighty Heart, Sir Winston Among Field Of Eight For Sunday’s Autumn Stakes At Woodbine

Eight hopefuls, including multiple graded stakes winner Special Forces, reigning Canadian Horse of the Year Mighty Heart, and 2019 Belmont Stakes champ Sir Winston, are set to contest the Grade 2 $175,000 Autumn Stakes, Sunday at Woodbine.

A 6-year-old son of Candy Ride (ARG) trained by Kevin Attard, who co-owns with Soli Mehta, Special Forces will chase his second Autumn score, having won the 1 1/16-mile Tapeta event for three-year-olds and upward two years ago.

Sporting a record of 6-6-2 from 20 starts, the chestnut, bred in Kentucky by Machmer Hall and Carrie and Craig Brogden, has finished in the top three in 12 straight starts and heads into Sunday's race off a win in the Grade 3 Durham Cup on Oct. 10.

Sent off at 6-1, the gelding, under Justin Stein, rallied strongly down the lane to secure a half-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile race stopping the clock in 1:42.36. Sir Winston was second, Halo Again finished third and Mighty Heart was fourth. All four are set to square off in the Autumn.

Claimed by Attard for $40,000 just over three years ago, the Durham Cup was the first trip to the winner's circle for Special Forces since taking the 2019 Autumn.

“I think he's always been a good horse,” said Attard. “Up until he got injured he was running against the best older horses on the grounds at Woodbine and was competing right with them. Any time you have to stop a horse for an extended period of time you always wonder, 'Have they lost a step?' or consider what level they'll be able to come back at. I think he's obviously put that to rest after his last race.”

Attard, three wins shy of 570 for his career, continues to be impressed by his consistent and resilient performer.

“Before we ran him the first time this year, I knew he was good and back to himself. I was eagerly awaiting him getting back to the races. There aren't many times you come back and hook a Belmont winner (Sir Winston, on August 19). We ran a good second. I was happy with the race that my horse ran.”

Special Forces made his debut on May 25, 2017, at Churchill, finishing sixth. He broke his maiden in his seventh start on August 5, 2018 in a maiden optional claiming race at Woodbine.

“He just has a great turn of foot,” raved Attard. “He really closes hard down the lane. He's an exciting horse to watch and a horse we claimed which makes it even more special just to see the improvement in him. He likes to sit at the back of the pack and come with a big run. Those ones are always exciting to watch.”

Are You Kidding Me won consecutive (2015-16) editions of the Autumn. Starting in 1920, Kentucky Derby champion and U.S. Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee, Exterminator, won the race three straight years.

The Autumn goes as race eight. First post for the 11-race card is 12:55 p.m. Fans can watch and wager on all the action through HPIbet.com and the Dark Horse Bets app.

$175,000 AUTUMN STAKES

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Special Forces – Justin Stein – Kevin Attard

2 – Vanzzy – Rafael Hernandez – Michael Pino

3 – Primo Touch (S) – Eswan Flores – Harold Ladouceur

4 – Sir Winston – Antonio Gallardo – Mark Casse

5 – Faraway Kitten – Luis Contreras – Denyse McClachrie

6 – Halo Again – Shaun Bridgmohan – Steve Asmussen

7 – Embolden – Mauricio Malvaez – Sandra Dominguez

8 – Mighty Heart – Patrick Husbands – Josie Carroll

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Munnyfor Ro Best In Ontario Damsel At Woodbine

In Sunday stakes action at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, Munnyfor Ro, ridden by Justin Stein, took the $142,500 Ontario Damsel for three-year-old fillies, contested at 1 1/16 miles over the Tapeta.

After slow opening splits of :25.59 and :50.85, the tempo began to pick up down the lane, as 8-5 choice Munnyfor Ro, fourth and gaining steadily at the stretch call, rallied impressively to win by a length in a time of 1:45.36. Oyster Box was second and Gold for Kitten was third.

“I expected a little more pace, but I was in a good spot,” said Stein, who now has 12 stakes scores on the campaign. “She was sitting comfortably in behind the slower pace and we were in the right spot for those fractions. When I called on her, she was there.  She gave me everything.”

Owned by Raroma Stable and trained by Kevin Attard, the daughter of Munnings launched her career last October at Woodbine, finishing eighth in her debut. She broke her maiden in her fifth race, this April at Keeneland.

Now 4-2-2 from 11 starts, the chestnut, bred by Daybar, LTD., has had a banner 2021 season, highlighted by three stakes scores, including the Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser and the Wonder Where. She was fourth to Safe Conduct in the Queen's Plate.

“She's done everything we've asked and now she's going to get a deserved break and some sunshine on her back and have a chance to kind of drop her head and eat some grass in the south,” said Attard, who has eight stakes victories in 2021.

Munnyfor Ro paid $5.30 for the Ontario Damsel win.

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