Canada's Triple Crown closes on the Turf in the Breeders' Stakes
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Photo:
Michael Burns Photography
One of the reasons I love Canada's Triple Crown is that some of my favorite horses were among the few to sweep the series. Horses like With Approval and Dance Smartly were as honest as they come, and both were able to come to America and prove their class on many occasions. Another reason to love the Triple Crown north of the border, is that the three legs are contested on three different surfaces, making it all that much tougher to sweep. While there will be no Triple Crown winner this year, the $400,000 Breeders’ Stakes, at twelve furlongs over the beautiful E.P. Taylor Turf Course at Woodbine Racetrack, will be a terrific way to close out the series.
A competitive field of ten Canadian-bred three-year-olds will take to the turf on Sunday in hopes of having their named etched into the record books. The winner of the final leg will not only need to handle the grass, but also be able to go the demanding mile-and-a-half.
All eyes will be on the winner of the second leg of the Triple Crown, Cool Catomine. While the son of Spring At Last has won two in a row, he has never before tried the turf. The Prince of Wales hero will break from the far outside post, with Luis Contreras back in the saddle, and should have his hands full in the one. Among his many challengers will be three from the barn of the legendary trainer, Roger Attfield.
Attfield probably has the one to beat in Final Copy, as the trainer looks for his incredible tenth win in the Breeders' Stakes. Patrick Husbands will have the mount on the son of Malibu Moon, who comes in off three straight victories on the Woodbine turf, most recently accounting for the Toronto Cup on July 23.
Attfield's other two entrants in the Breeders' include a pair of late bloomers, in Major Eclipse and Glencairn, both of whom are on the improve and coming in off solid maiden wins.
Speaking of big time trainers, Bill Mott has Channel Maker back at Woodbine after finishing fourth in the Queen's Plate. A confirmed turf specialist, the English Channel colt tried the synthetic course twice, and did not embarrass himself, finishing second in the Marine Stakes, before hitting the board in the first leg of the Triple Crown. Back on the grass, he figures to have a say in the outcome.
While Final Copy took the win in the Toronto Cup, his two closest challengers that day, Conquest Lemonraid and King and His Court, will be back to try the Attfield runner again, this time at twelve furlongs. Both trained by Mark Casse, the former is a son of Belmont winner, Lemon Drop Kid, so he should appreciate the trip. Jersey Joe Bravo has the mount on the Toronto Cup runner-up.
Rounding out the field will be Lookin At Bravo, who broke his maiden two starts back going ten furlongs on the turf, Woodbridge, the fourth-place finisher in the Prince of Wales, and Seeking Albert, who last time earned his second career victory, while going the same demanding trip that he will see on Sunday.
Supporting the final leg of the Canadian Triple Crown will be another interesting turf affair, as Starship Jubilee puts her five-race winning streak on the line, when she faces the boys in the Grade 2 Sky Classic. The daughter of Indy Wind has not lost since being claimed and joining the Kevin Attard barn in February, but this will be her toughest test yet in the 11-furlong turf affair. The top three finishers from the recent Nijinsky Stakes; Dragon Bay, Can'thelpbelieving, and Pumpkin Rumble figure to be the main challengers to the filly.
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