“We're happy with his training and we thought he ran well enough the other night in his first run at Meydan this season,” said UK-based trainer David O'Meara. “He had a little break after Bahrain [G3 International Trophy, Nov. 19] and might have needed his first run back.”

It won't be easy for O'Meara's star as Charlie Appleby saddles Zakouski, who boasts an impressive track record, having won three of his four starts here. His only local defeat came at the hands of Lord Glitters in last year's Singspiel.

“He didn't see out the 1 1/4-mile trip when ninth in the Bahrain International Trophy last time,” said the UK Champion Trainer. “We think he'll be better down in trip in the Singspiel as he ran really well in the race last year.”

The strong field also includes Sir Busker, who makes his UAE debut for trainer William Knight, who experienced Carnival success back in 2007 when Illustrious Blue won at Nad Al Sheba. Third in the G1 Queen Anne at Royal Ascot in June, the 6-year-old represents Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds and will use this race as a prep for the G1 Emirates Airline Jebel Hatta on Super Saturday.

“We're excited to see Sir Busker line up in Friday's Singspiel Stakes,” said Sam Hoskins, Syndicate Manager for Kennet Valley.

“He travelled over well last weekend and has settled in nicely to life at Meydan. He has been working nicely at home in Newmarket and while he will improve a bit for the run (Super Saturday being the main aim), hopefully he will run a nice race here.”

There are two Group 3s on the card, including the UAE 2000 Guineas, which sees a rematch between the first three home in the Guineas Trial; Rawy, Quality Boone and Kiefer.

Rawy is owned by RRR Racing and trained by Salem Bin Ghadayer, who said: “He ran well in the Guineas Trial and came back from the race well; very sound.

“It's pretty much a similar field in the Guineas and the two extra furlongs will not be an issue for the horse. He's in good form and has handled his preparation very well. I believe that he is going to run a big race on Friday.”

The other Group 3 is the Al Shindagha Sprint over six furlongs, in which Doug Watson's Al Tariq will defend his title. He has a kilo penalty for his G3 Dubawi Stakes win last time out, in which Freedom Fighter and Canvassed were behind him.

Canvassed, winner of the G3 Mahab Al Shimaal over course and distance last March, will be ridden by Andrea Atzeni, who said: “he was a bit rusty last time and just got very tired. Doug Watson and the team have done a great job with him and Sam Hitchcott breezed him the other day and he did a nice piece of work, so hopefully he will have come on for that run.”

The Listed Curlin Stakes [Presented by Race of Ambition], run over the same 2000metres as the G1 Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup, will see Group 1 winner Salute The Soldier make his second start of the year. Trained by Fawzi Nass, the 7-year-old won G1 Maktoum Challenge R3 last season and was fifth in Round 1 last month.

“He's in good shape. He's had his first run now, over a mile, because we thought he would be gassy and fresh and needing the run,” said the Bahraini handler. “Hopefully that race has brought him on and he's ready to rock and roll this week in the Curlin Stakes.”

The formidable line-up includes Dubai Icon, an 8 1/2-length winner last time out when the re-opposing G2 UAE Derby winner Rebel's Romance was among his victims.

The card also stages a new race, the Listed Business Bay Challenge over seven furlongs on turf. It sees the return of three-time course winner D'Bai, who won the Group 2 Zabeel Mile here last season.

The evening's action gets underway with the Group 2 Mazrat Al Ruwayah, for Purebred Arabians, in which RB Money To Burn defends her title, but faces stiff opposition from Namrood, a near nine-length winner here 11 days ago.

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Sixth in his last start in the Forbidden Apple at Saratoga, Corelli once again was at the back of the pack in the Singspiel, seventh for the first six furlongs with only Woodbridge behind him. Peace of Ekati held the lead for the first six furlongs, setting fractions of :25.90 for the first quarter, :50.55 for the first half, and 1:14.91 for the three-quarters of a mile. Belichick, who sat a length behind Peace of Ekati throughout the first three-quarters of a mile, moved to the lead on the final turn, his advantage a half-length going into the stretch.

Kimura took Corelli through an opening on the turn, building up momentum to challenge Belichick's lead with a furlong to go. The son of Point of Entry took over at that point, pulling away to win the Singspiel by a length and three-quarters. English Conqueror was second, Belichick holding on for third. Theregoesjojo, Primo Touch, Peace of Ekati, Eons, and Woodbridge rounded out the order of finish.

The final time for the mile and a quarter was 2:01.70. Find this race's chart here.

Corelli paid $9.80, $4.90, and $3.10. English Conqueror paid $9.20 and $4.80. Belichick paid $2.70 to show.

Bred in Kentucky by George Strawbridge, Jr., Corelli is a 6-year-old gelding by Point of Entry out of Vignette, by Diesis. Owned by Augustin Stable and trained by Jonathan Thomas, the victory in the G3 Singspiel improves Corelli to 2-0-1 in 2021, with a lifetime record of five wins in 18 starts for career winnings of $270,011.

The post Corelli Passes Belichick In Stretch To Win Singspiel At Woodbine appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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A pair of Grade 3 $150,000 events, the Singspiel Stakes and Seaway Stakes, and two $125,000 stakes, the Catch A Glimpse and Soaring Free, makeup Saturday's stakes quartet.

After blazing to a course record in the $150,000 Buckland for 3-year-olds and older on the Colonial Downs' inner turf, Eons will make his Canadian debut in the 1 ¼-mile Grade 3 Singspiel, for 3-year-olds and up, to be contested over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course.

Trained by Arnaud Delacour for owner Mark Grier, the chestnut covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.14, heading Kentucky Ghost for the Buckland victory.

A 5-year-old son of Giant's Causeway, Eons returned $13.20 for the win.

“He ran a very, very good race,” said Delacour. “I was [expecting him to run well]. I was happy with the horse and happy with the ride because it was a patient ride. He always runs well. It was such a long time since he went to the winner's circle, but not by lack of good effort. He was running well against good horses.

“He's always on edge, but he is great. You can do what you want with him. He's really athletic, but he has a lot of energy, for sure.”

Eons launched his career with a pair of starts at Tampa Bay Downs in early 2019, before making four consecutive trips to the winner's circle, including a victory in the Grade 3 Kent Stakes at Delaware Park.

His win in the Buckland was his first since the Kent triumph. Overall, he sports a mark of 5-2-1 from 17 career starts.

“The key with him is always the same… I'm always hoping for a fast pace, where the other horses can come back a little bit,” said Delacour. “He needs a lot of stretch to get going and that's probably one of the reasons I would love to try him at Woodbine. The stretch is very long and horses have time to really get into a rhythm.”

Patrick Husbands, who won the 2016 Singspiel aboard Danish Dynafomer, will ride Eons on Saturday.

“We've been lucky with Patrick in the past. He's done well for us. I'm very happy with how we're going into the race.”

Bred in Kentucky by Camas Park Stud out of the multiple stakes-winning Hansel mare Golden Antigua, Eons is a full brother to graded/group stakes winners Giant Gizmo and Tableaux, and a half brother to the dam of multiple graded stakes champ Cheermeister.

Clancy Bloodstock purchased Eons for $300,000 from the Eaton Sales consignment to the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

His rivals in the Singspiel include Belichick, who won last years' Breeders' Stakes, third jewel in the OLG Triple Crown, and multiple graded stakes placed Corelli, a 6-year-old son of Point of Entry, who is 4-3-3 from 17 starts.

The Singspiel is named after the Irish-bred son of In the Wings, whose nine victories in 20 lifetime starts include the 1996 Canadian International Stakes.

Trainer Roger Attfield won five consecutive editions (2009-13) of the Singspiel, and eight runnings in all.

FIELD FOR THE GRADE 3 $150,000 SINGSPIEL (Race 8)

POST – HORSE – JOCKEY – TRAINER

1 – Eons – Patrick Husbands – Arnaud Delacour

2 – Theregoesjojo – Rafael Hernandez – Michael De Paulo

3 – Woodbridge – David Moran – Mike Keogh

4 – Peace of Ekati – Steven Bahen – Ashlee Brnjas

5 – English Conqueror – Antonio Gallardo – Darwin Banach

6 – Belichick – Luis Contreras – Josie Carroll

7 – Primo Touch – Justin Stein – Harold Ladouceur

8 – Corelli – Kazushi Kimura – Jonathan Thomas

Set for seven furlongs on the Woodbine Tapeta, the Grade 3 Seaway Stakes, for fillies & mares, 3-year-olds and up, has drawn seven starters, including Mark Casse trainee Our Secret Agent.

Owned by Gary Barber, the 4-year-old daughter of Secret Circle is as consistent as they come, assembling a record of 2-5-4 from 11 career starts.

Our Secret Agent is no stranger to Woodbine, having competed at the Toronto oval on seven occasions, compiling a 2-3-2 mark in the process.

The only thing missing from her résumé is a trip to the stakes winner's circle.

“What a nice filly,” praised Casse. “She comes to play every time.”

The dual Hall of Fame conditioner believes the Kentucky-bred (Paul Tackett Revocable Trust) will appreciate the seven-panel Seaway distance.

“I think seven furlongs will be perfect for her,” offered Casse.

Standing in her way is a solid group of rivals, including multiple graded stakes winner Amalfi Coast and graded stakes champ Boardroom.

FIELD FOR THE GRADE 3 $150,000 SEAWAY (Race 10)

POST – HORSE – JOCKEY – TRAINER

1 – Golden Vision – Omar Moreno – Tino Attard

2 – Hell N Wild – Antonio Gallardo – Lorne Richards

3 – Amalfi Coast – Justin Stein – Kevin Attard

4 – Fiduciary (GB) – Kazushi Kimura – Josie Carroll

5 – Toffen – Rafael Hernandez – Kevin Attard

6 – Our Secret Agent – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Mark Casse

7 – Boardroom – Luis Contreras – Josie Carroll

Mark Casse conditioned Catch A Glimpse, who was Canada's Horse of the Year, Outstanding Two-Year-Old Filly, and Outstanding Turf Female of 2015 after winning Woodbine's Grade 1 Natalma and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland.

On Saturday, the dual Hall of Fame trainer will be will be looking for his first win in the stakes race named for his champion runner as he fields half of the eight entrants in the $125,000 tilt for 2-year-old fillies at 6 ½ furlongs on the grass.

Diabolic is perfect in two starts, having scored first time out over five furlongs of turf at Gulfstream Park and returned to action more than two months later with a smart score here at 5 ½ furlongs on the Tapeta in the My Dear Stakes.

“She's got to be considered one of the favourites, I would think,” said Casse. “I don't think the added ground will be a problem. She finished strongly, and galloped out well in her last start.”

Lois Len also has raced twice, scoring at five furlongs here first time out and then ending fourth as the favourite in the My Dear following a troubled beginning.

“I actually thought she ran very well, given her break,” said Casse, who trains Lois Len for D.J. Stable LLC, Aron Yagoda, and Quintessential Racing Florida LLC. “I'm not sure about the turf – I think she'll be fine, we breezed her over it – but we're looking for more ground more than anything. She wants to run farther.”

Mo Touring, a homebred owned by Gary Barber, was a front-running winner of her only start to date, a five-furlong maiden turf race at Gulfstream back on June 3.

“She was impressive,” said Casse, of the Ontario-bred.

Mrs. Barbara, a homebred who races for Spruce Stable, is winless in two starts but was a close second when making her local debut at 5 ½ furlongs on the main track.

Rounding out the field will be locals Curlin Candy and Silver Magnatize along with shippers Royal Engagement and Miz Jameson.

Curlin Candy, the first foal of Canadian Horse of the Year Caren, ran second to Diabolic when debuting in the My Dear. Caren won three turf stakes here in her 2016 championship campaign and finished third to Catch A Glimpse in the previous year's Natalma at one mile on the grass.

The Catch A Glimpse was run for the first time in 2018. Shippers have won the last two editions with Alda connecting for trainer Graham Motion in 2020 following Fair Maiden's score for conditioner Eoin Harty the previous season.

FIELD FOR THE $125,000 CATCH A GLIMPSE STAKES (Race 6)

POST – HORSE – JOCKEY – TRAINER

1 – Curlin Candy – Justin Stein – Mike De Paulo

2 – Diabolic (IRE) – Antonio Gallardo – Mark Casse

3 – Mrs. Barbara – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Mark Casse

4 – Royal Engagement – Kazushi Kimura – Timothy Hamm

5 – Mo Touring – Rafael Hernandez – Mark Casse

6 – Miz Jameson – Luis Contreras – Steve Asmussen

7 – Silver Magnatized – Gary Boulanger – Kevin Attard

8 – Lois Len – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

Trainer Mark Casse won last year's Soaring Free Stakes with Gretzky the Great, who went on to capture Woodbine's Grade 1 Summer Stakes en route to being voted Canada's champion male 2-year-old.

On Saturday, Casse will send out the duo of First Empire and Twenty Four Mamba as he seeks to follow that blueprint in the $125,000 Soaring Free, a 6 ½-furlong race for 2-year-olds on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course, which lured a field of six.

“Hopefully, if they run good, it will set us up for the Summer Stakes,” said the trainer.

First Empire, a Canadian-bred who races for Harlequin Ranches, faltered to finish fifth here when debuting on the Tapeta but rebounded with a front-running score at six furlongs on the main turf course.

“We were disappointed in his first start but he came back and ran well on the turf,” said Casse. “He should run well.”

Twenty Four Mamba failed to make much of an impact in his first two starts at Churchill Downs but struck from off the pace in his local bow and then ended the runner-up behind the very sharp shipper One Timer in the 5 1/2-furlong Victoria.

“He's a horse that I had a lot of hopes for early on, and he was disappointing at first,” said Casse. “But, I thought he broke his maiden impressively. And in his last start, that horse (One Timer) was just too fast. I thought he ran a good second.”

Casse believes that the Soaring Free distance, at least, will be in Twenty Four Mamba's favor.

“He wants more ground,” said Casse.” I have no idea whether he'll turf, but so far, what I've seen of the Classic Empires, they've run pretty good on it.”

Classic Empire, trained by Casse during a career which included a Breeders' Cup Juvenile and Eclipse Award-winning juvenile campaign plus a victory in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby and a near-miss in the Preakness, is off to a promising beginning at stud.

Silent Empire, runner-up to First Empire when debuting for The Estate of Gustav Schickedanz and trainer Mike Keogh, will be looking to turn the tables in this rematch.

“I think he should have won first time out,” said Keogh. “It's not the rider's fault – he just got boxed in for the longest time. When he did come up the rail the other Casse entrant came in on him, and stopped him from getting out.”

Degree of Risk, coming off a smart maiden score on Arlington's synthetic surface, and Heaven Street, a last-out front-running winner over 7 ½ furlongs of turf at Indiana Downs for trainer Steve Asmussen, adding intrigue to the Soaring Free lineup.

Locally-based Concealed Carry, victorious in his debut here before ending third in the Victoria, completes the lineup.

Soaring Free, who lends this stakes his name, was Canada's Horse of the Year and Outstanding Turf Male in 2004 after capturing the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile. The Sam-Son Farm homebred finished a close second in the previous year's Woodbine Mile and was honoured as Canada's Outstanding Sprinter.

First post for Saturday's 11-race card is 1:10 p.m. Fans can watch and wager on all the action via HPIbet.com.

FIELD FOR THE $125,000 SOARING FREE STAKES (Race 3)

POST – HORSE – JOCKEY – TRAINER

1 – Twenty Four Mamba – Rafael Hernandez – Mark Casse

2 – Concealed Carry – Shaun Bridgmohan – Barbara Minshall

3 – Silent Farewell – David Moran – Mike Keogh

4 – Heaven Street – Luis Contreras – Steve Asmussen

5 – First Emperor – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

6 – Degree of Risk – Justin Stein – Eoin Harty

The post Woodbine Starts Queen’s Plate Weekend With Quartet Of Saturday Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The Preakness Stakes is widely known as the second leg of the Triple Crown and few connect the event with the durable star of the late 1800s who was named for a New Jersey township. In 1870, he won a stakes on opening day of Pimlico Race Course's inaugural meeting and was still campaigning when the track's signature event was rebranded three years later. The tradition of honoring the very best continues today, often after a marquee winner retires. Such is the case with Churchill Downs' Wise Dan Stakes, formerly known as the Firecracker for its spot on the calendar around the July 4 holiday.

This month's Lost and Found highlights some “lost” meanings of well-known stakes “found” on the summer schedule. The sampling is arranged in chronological order.

Matchmaker Stakes (July 17 at Monmouth Park) This fixture was conceived with an unusual incentive to attract the best fillies and mares. In addition to the financial reward, the prize for the top three finishers came with breeding options to premiere stallions. The original edition was held in 1967 at the now-idle Atlantic City Race Course. As sponsorships gained traction in the 1990s, Kentucky's leading stud operations began adding their brand to the title in addition to seasons to their stallions. Known as the WinStar Matchmaker since 2014, the 2021 renewal offered matings to Audible, Global Campaign and Tom's d'Etat.

Molly Pitcher Stakes (July 17 at Monmouth Park) Whether Molly Pitcher was a real person is a subject of debate, but the general consensus or legend is that she was a woman who carried water to troops at the Battle of Monmouth during the American Revolutionary War in 1778. The modern-day Molly Pitcher, first held in 1946, is undeniably a race that has attracted countless champion fillies and mares to the Jersey Shore track.

Jim Dandy (July 31 at Saratoga) The naming origin sometimes gets lost in translation for this test that is synonymous as the prep for the Travers Stakes, the Saratoga season's headliner. The race is a nod to the Thoroughbred who won the inaugural Travers in 1930 in a stunning upset over Triple Crown winner Gallant Fox. The surprise was one of the many that resulted in the track being dubbed “the graveyard of favorites” that has morphed into “the graveyard of champions.” Jim Dandy never came close to duplicating his best when it mattered the most. In his 141 starts, he produced just seven victories. By the stallion Jim Gaffney, Jim Dandy's label most likely reflected the definition for something of superior quality, a term that may have been inspired by a minstrel song of the mid 1800s.

Yellow Ribbon Handicap (August 7 at Del Mar) In racetracker slang, “get tied on” for this explanation of a pretty name with a pretty convoluted background. For starters, the summer edition is the rebranded Palomar Handicap while the first incarnation at Santa Anita is now the Rodeo Drive. The original was first held in 1977 during Santa Anita's autumn meeting when the Oak Tree Racing Association traditionally leased the facility. A popular song of the era was “Tie a Yellow Ribbon (Round the Old Oak Tree)” and somehow the wording grew into a good idea for a race. The varied symbolism and history of yellow ribbons includes awareness of the military although the hit song apparently is about a freed prisoner and his girlfriend.

Best Pal Stakes (August 7 at Del Mar) In short, the race for 2-year-olds recognizes the California-bred gelding but the story goes deeper. Best Pal was one of the most popular horses of his time thanks in part to his folksy name, West Coast roots and consistency during 47 races spread over seven seasons. His first of 12 graded wins came at Del Mar at age two in the Balboa Stakes which reflected area locations honoring the Spanish explorer. Best Pal retired in early 1996 and later that year the Balboa became the Best Pal. His 47-18-11-4 and $5,668,245 record includes Grade 1 victories in the Santa Anita, Charles H. Strub and Oaklawn Handicaps, Hollywood Gold Cup, and Hollywood Futurity and a runner-up effort in the 1991 Kentucky Derby.

A homebred of the revered Golden Eagle Farm of John and Betty Mabee, Best Pal returned to his birthplace but was less than thrilled with a life of too much leisure. He became a stable pony to accompany young horses to the track at Golden Eagle's training division. He died of an apparent heart attack at age ten and was buried on the property.

Beverly D. Stakes (August 14 at Arlington Park) The race for fillies and mares was designed in 1987 as the counterpart to the track's marquee Arlington Million that is run on the same day. The event honors the late wife of Richard Duchossois, whose name is forever linked with transforming Arlington Park into a spectacular setting for world-class racing. This year the Million will be contested as the Mister D. with a purse of $600,000. The Secretariat Stakes, the track's signature test for 3-year-olds, has been rechristened the Bruce D. to commemorate the couple's son who died in 2014.

Alabama Stakes (August 21 at Saratoga) Since 1872 some of the nation's finest fillies have been associated with Alabama which can be a head scratcher when glancing at headlines. The stakes refers to the home state of William Cottrell, a prominent owner-breeder of the era, who declined to have a race named for himself.

Singspiel Stakes (August 21 at Woodbine) First held in 2005, this race pays homage to the remarkably consistent international runner whose only two North American starts were at Woodbine. After winning the Canadian International at the Toronto track, the Irish-bred Singspiel was runner-up in the Breeders' Cup Turf to earn the 1996 Eclipse Award as champion grass horse. In his 20-race career, Singspiel was first or second on 17 occasions and banked just shy of $6 million. His triumphs include the 1997 Dubai World Cup. That triumph is commemorated with a race in his name that is contested early each year at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. After a productive stud career in England, Singspiel was euthanized in 2010 following complications of laminitis. By definition, Singspiel is a German opera with spoken dialogue. He is a son of In the Wings (GB) which is a theatrical term for a player waiting to go on stage.

Riskaverse Stakes (August 26 at Saratoga) This lyrical label sounds racehorsey, but with a hyphen after “risk” the term relates to investors reluctant to take certain gambles. A newbie on the calendar with an inaugural running in 2009, the 3-year-old filly feature is named for the mare who earned more than $2 million before closing her five-season campaign in 2005. Her record includes consecutive victories in the G1 Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes at Belmont Park.

Ballerina Stakes (August 28 at Saratoga) First run in 1979, the label easily conjures up images of athletic and elegant dancers so one might not consider an equine version. However, the name is a nod to the standout filly of the 1950s who won New York's inaugural Maskette Handicap (now the Go for Wand).

Travers Stakes (August 28 at Saratoga) Arguably the most famous race of summer, the “The Midsummer Derby” is revered for highlighting returnees from the Triple Crown trail and the late bloomers getting into stride and for memorable victories and defeats. Dating back to 1864, the showcase honors Saratoga Race Course co-founder William R. Travers, who won the inaugural running with his horse Kentucky.

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Gail Cox will look to net the stakes double with E.P. Taylor Stakes favorite Rideforthecause's stablemate Count Again in the Northern Dancer Turf Stakes.

The lightly raced 5-year-old son of Awesome Again has been impressive over his six lifetime outings.

On Sept. 19, the bay gelding, despite being heavily steadied into the far turn, drove to the front outside of the eighth-pole and secured a 1 ¼ length win in the Singspiel Stakes (G3T).

The final time for 1 ¼ miles over a “firm” E.P. Taylor Turf Couse was 2:00.67.

“He ran great,” praised Cox. “Again, it was exactly what he wanted to do, which is to go a distance. A mile-and-a-sixteenth was always a little short for him. So, the added distance… he was really good. He did win pretty easily.”

It was the first stakes engagement for Count Again, who Cox is counting on once again to come up big on the Woodbine grass.

“He's a very nice horse. I know anyone that's trained him has really liked him. He just had this and that which had bothered him, which led to him having some time off. He needed to get really good and comfortable. He seems to like training here. He does a fair amount of training on the dirt here, but he's been happy here, and has come out of his races really well.”

The third Sam-Son Farm homebred to see action on Sunday is Say the Word, a 5-year-old son of More Than Ready.

Third to Count Again in the Singspiel, the dark bay gelding was sixth in the 2018 Queen's Plate, going on to finish second in the turf Breeders' Stakes, third jewel in the Canadian Triple Crown, in that same year.

The multiple graded stakes placed gelding, sporting a record of 4-2-4 from 24 career starts, is in search of his first stakes victory.

Cox believes Say the Word will relish the 1 ½-mile Northern Dancer distance.

“He was closing ground [in the Singspiel] and he didn't have the easiest of trips. I think he'll love this distance. He's another one that we had to send away to run farther. And that worked out. But he needs the distance and he doesn't like the Tapeta. He was originally set to run on it, but he just didn't like it.”

As for similarities between her trio of stakes hopefuls, Cox only sees a pair of obvious connections.

“Besides liking to go long and liking the turf, they don't really have anything in common. They're pretty different horses. Most of the time there's something that you're usually worried about, but they are all coming into these races well.”

Graded stakes champ Admiralty Pier, who won last year's Tampa Bay Stakes (G3T) at 21-1, will chase his sixth career victory in his 23rd start. Bred by Calumet Farm and owned by Hoolie Racing Stable and Bruce Lunsford, the son of English Channel finished second in both the Connaught Cup (G2T) and King Edward (G2T) before a sixth in the Ricoh Woodbine Mile on Sept. 19.

Ridgling Jungle Fighter, a 4-year-old son of Animal Kingdom, will get his fourth shot at graded stakes glory having contested last year's Ontario Derby (G3), and this year's Seagram Cup (G3) and Singspiel (G3T). Trained by Michael Doyle for Stronach Stables, the Kentucky-bred is 3-3-1 from 10 starts.

Staghawk Stables' 5-year-old Nakamura has never finished lower than fifth in his 17 career starts. The four-time winner, who won three straight races in 2019, will be making his second straight start at Woodbine after finishing fourth in the Singspiel (G3T) on September 19.

Peace of Ekati, owned by Colebrook Farms and bred by Charles Fipke, has eight top-three finishes from 16 starts. Trained by Ashlee Brnjas, the 5-year-old son of Tale of Ekati has finished second in his two previous starts. The Northern Dancer will be the chestnut gelding's first graded stakes appearance.

Five-year-old Sir Sahib, trained by Kevin Attard, looks for his first win since May 18, 2019. The Stronach Stables silk bearer has a 2-4-7 mark from 20 outings, and arrives at the Northern Dancer off a runner-up performance in the Singspiel. The son of Fort Larned will be ridden by Justin Stein.

An Ontario-bred 6-year-old son of Langfuhr, Woodbridge is 3-2-7 from 27 starts. The gelding, owned by the Estate of Gustav Schickedanz and Donald Howard, was fifth last time out in the Singspiel. The bay is trained by Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee Michael Keogh.

Sam-Son has a record seven Northern Dancer trophies, including three straight scores from 2002-04. Full of Wonder kicked off the natural hat trick, followed by back-to-back wins by Strut the Stage.

Fans can watch and wager on all the action via HPIbet.com. First race post time on Sunday is set for 1:10 p.m.

$300,000 Northern Dancer Stakes (Grade 1) – Race 5
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Say the Word – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Gail Cox

2 – Peace of Ekati – Daisuke Fukumoto – Ashlee Brnjas

3 – Sir Sahib – Justin Stein – Kevin Attard

4 – Jungle Fighter – Rafael Hernandez – Michael Doyle

5 – Nakamura – Kazushi Kimura – Graham Motion

6 – Woodbridge – Sahin Civaci – Michael Keogh

7 – Admiralty Pier – Steven Bahen – Barbara Minshall

8 – Count Again – Luis Contreras – Gail Cox

The post Singspiel Winner Count Again Headlines Sunday’s Northern Dancer Turf Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Ridden by Luis Contreras, Count Again only had Sam-Son/Cox stablemate Say the Word beaten midway through the 1 1/4-mile turf test for 3-year-olds and up. But he swung wide into the stretch and rallied for the victory over Stronach Stables' Sir Sahib, with Say the Word getting up for third, Nakamura finishing fourth, Woodbridge fifth, Standard Deviation sixth, Tiz a Slam seventh, Skywire eighth and Jungle Fighter last in the field of nine. Standard Deviation, Tiz a Slam and Nakamura each went off at 7-2 as co-favorites.

Stewards reviewed the stretch run after Count Again veered inwardly in midstretch, causing a chain reaction that forced runner-up Sir Sahib to alter course. The original order of finish was allowed to stand.

Count Again, an Ontario-bred produced from the stakes-winning Red Ransom mare Count to Three, covered 1 1/4 miles on firm turf in 2:00.67 and paid $21.20 for the win.

On Sept. 12, Sam-Son and Cox teamed up to win the G2 Canadian Stakes with the Candy Ride filly Rideforthecause, who upset heavy favorite Cambier Parc.

Tiz a Slam, a Roger Attfield trainee who won the 2019 Singspiel, went to the front of this year's renewal, setting early fractions of :25.82 and :49.91 for the opening half-mile. After six furlongs in 1:13.65, Jungle Fighter and Nakamura applied some pressure to Tiz a Slam's outside, with Contreras beginning to put Count Again in gear on the outside after he had slipped toward the rear of the field in the run down the long backstretch.

Nakamura engaged Tiz a Slam at the top of the stretch, briefly putting his head in front after a mile in 1:37.20, but Count Again was sailing along toward the lead on the outside. The gelding ducked in, forcing Nakamura to shift in. That led Daisuke Fukumoto, who'd saved ground throughout on Sir Sahib, to alter course and chase after Count Again in the final furlong after going around Nakamura. Once clear, Sir Sahib didn't make up any ground on the winner.

The Singspiel was the stakes debut for Count Again, who debuted at Ellis Park for trainer Neil Howard in August 2019, finishing third in a dirt sprint. He graduated from the maiden ranks in his second start at Keeneland on Oct. 9, then was off until winning an April 3 allowance race at Tampa Bay Downs when under the care of J. Kent Sweezey.

Count Again had two local runs for Cox, finishing third in a June 20 allowance/optional claiming race going 1 1/6 miles on turf, then getting beaten a neck by Woodbridge in a 1 1/4-mile allowance/optional claiming race Aug. 29. Contreras was aboard for both of those races.

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Trainer Roger Attfield, who won five consecutive editions of the turf race, and eight overall runnings, will look for back-to-back Singspiel victories with Tiz a Slam.

Inaugurated in 2005 as a 1 ½-mile grass marathon, the Singspiel, for three-year-olds and up, will now go as a 1 ¼-mile race, still contested over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course.

After three stakes triumphs last year, including the Louisville (G3) at Saratoga in May, and the Nijinsky (G2) at Woodbine in July, Tiz a Slam has finished fourth, seventh, along with a pair of sixth-place efforts in his two most recent outings. Attfield is hoping the six-year-old son of Tiznow can get back on track and into the winner's circle with a second straight Singspiel title.

“He hasn't been the horse he was last year but right now he's training as well as he ever has,” said the veteran conditioner.

Tiz a Slam, bred and owned by Chiefswood Stables, was sixth in his latest engagement, the 1 1/16 mile main track Seagram Cup (G3), on July 26 at Woodbine. A winner of nine races from 30 starts, Attfield believes the bay millionaire will appreciate the return to turf.

He doesn't see the shorter Singspiel distance as an issue.

“I don't think it matters much. I've never been totally convinced he was a mile and a half horse.”

Nine rivals will challenge Tiz a Slam for top prize in the Singspiel, a group that includes multiple stakes placed Sir Sahib (2-3-7 from 19 starts), multiple stakes placed Standard Deviation (3-2-4 from 13 starts), graded stakes winner Skywire (4-2-0 from 11 starts), graded stakes placed Jungle Fighter (3-3-1 from nine starts), and multiple stakes placed Nakamura (4-3-4 from 16 starts).

The race is named after the Irish-bred son of In the Wings, whose nine victories in 20 lifetime starts include the 1996 Canadian International Stakes.

The $135,000 Woodbine Cares Stakes and the $135,000 Ontario Racing Stakes are also on tap for Ricoh Woodbine Mile Day.

Scheduled as race 10, one race after the Mile, the Woodbine Cares Stakes has drawn seven two-year-old fillies.

Contested at five furlongs on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course, the race features Dirty Dangle, who won her debut for trainer Ralph Biamonte, Forest Drift, also a winner first time out, and Live Oak Plantation's Souper Munnings, who has posted a win and a second in her first two outings.

Last year, Fast Scene took the inaugural running of the race in a time of :56.96. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Fast Anna is owned by Blazing Meadows Farm LLC and Three Chimneys Farm LLC.

Seven two-year-old hopefuls are set to clash in the seven-furlong turf Ontario Racing Stakes, the first added-money feature on Sunday's card (race three).

Souper Classy, an Ontario-bred son of Souper Speedy won his debut on August 27 at Woodbine. Michael De Paulo trains the dark bay for owner Mickey Demers.

Credit River will make his debut in the Ontario Racing, Wesley Ward trainee Amsden looks to go two-for-two to start his career, and Quick Tempo heads north off a strong curtain-raising effort at Arlington on August 20, winning a 4 ½-furlong dash over the main track.

Old Chestnut won the inaugural running of the race last year, notching a 3 ¾-length triumph in a time of :56.85 on the Inner Turf.

First post for Saturday's 12-race card is 1:10 p.m. Fans can watch and wager on all the action via HPIbet.com.

FIELD FOR THE GRADE 3 $125,000 SINGSPIEL

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Say the Word – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Gail Cox

2 – Sir Sahib – Daisuke Fukumoto – Kevin Attard

3 – Admiralty Pier – David Moran – Barbara Minshall

4 – Standard Deviation – Justin Stein – Graham Motion

5 – Skywire – Rafael Hernandez – Mark Casse

6 – Woodbridge – Sahin Civaci – Mike Keogh

7 – Tiz a Slam – Steven Bahen – Roger Attfield

8 – Count Again – Luis Contreras – Gail Cox

9 – Nakamura – Kazushi Kimura – Graham Motion

10 – Jungle Fighter – Patrick Husbands – Michael Doyle

FIELD FOR THE $135,000 WOODBINE CARES

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Silent Mamba – Jeffery Alderson – Harold Ladouceur

2 – Dirty Dangle – Sheena Ryan – Ralph Biamonte

3 – Forest Drift – Rafael Hernandez – Robert Tiller

4 – Chatelet – Kazushi Kimura – Arnaud Delacour

5 – Souper Munnings – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

6 – Rocket Reload – Justin Stein – Michael De Paulo

7 – Illegal Smile – Luis Contreras – Wesley Ward

FIELD FOR THE $135,000 ONTARIO RACING

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Souper Classy – David Moran – Michael De Paulo

2 – Credit River – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Breeda Hayes

3 – Sky's Not Falling – Luis Contreras – Michael Trombetta

4 – Amsden – Justin Stein – Wesley Ward

5 – Ready to Repeat – Kazushi Kimura – Gail Cox

6 – Too Legit – Daisuke Fukumoto – Barbara Minshall

7 – Quick Tempo – Rafael Hernandez – Christopher Davis

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