Woodbine: Attard has 3 runners in Saturday's Valedictory

Nine starters, including Kevin Attard trainees Hammerhead, Jokestar and Zabo, will vie for top prize in Saturday’s Grade 3 Valedictory Stakes, a 1 1/2-mile main track test for 3-year-olds and up, at Woodbine. 

A dark bay son of War Front out of the Medaglia d’Oro mare Figarella’s Queen, Hammerhead sports a mark of 12: 1-4-2 from 12 start. Owned by Gold Square, the well-traveled 3-year-old arrives at the Valedictory off a runner-up effort over 1 3/8 miles on the inner turf on Oct. 25.

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“It was an excellent effort,” said Attard, who is closing in on 900 career victories. “He kept trying down the lane, but he wasn’t able to get by his stablemate (Zabo). He’s had some ups and downs in his career, but if you look at his form, he always seems to come back with a good run when he’s had a tough outing.”

Bred in Kentucky by Glen Hill Farm, Hammerhead debuted on August 17, 2024, finishing sixth in a 1 1/16-mile race over the Saratoga inner turf. He broke his maiden in his third start in October of that year courtesy of a 4 1/4-length victory at one mile over the Woodbine inner turf.

“The half-empty view would be that he has one win, but the half-full view would say he’s finished in the top three in seven of his 12 races,” Attard said. “In the four races he was second, he finished a length behind or less. To his credit, he’s a trier. He had a nice performance last time and we are looking for him to build off that.”

“Very, very impressed with the way he closed,” Attard said. “He was well out of it at one point, but he just kept on coming. He had worked well leading up to the race and he has shown that he can produce a nice kick down the lane. He’s finished in the top four in his past six starts, three of those wins. That is a testament to his consistency and his willingness to perform on game day.”

Bred and owned by Al and Bill Ulwelling, Jokestar made his latest winner’s circle trip, in a one-mile tilt on the Thistledown dirt Sept. 11.

In front by a head at the stretch call, the Ontario-bred bay gelding dug in to win by a neck in 1:37.77.

“I think that race says a lot about what type of horse he is,” Attard said. “He was fifth early, moved into contention and then worked overtime to get the win. There was a lot to like about that one.”

Jokestar has a career record of 17: 4-2-3

After a quartet of off-the-board finishes to begin his career, Zabo has a pair of wins and a third in his last three starts, including a three-quarter length triumph at 1 3/8 miles of inner turf Oct. 25 at Woodbine.

“He has really turned things around,” Attard said. “He bobbled at the start last time, which he also did when he was third the race before, but he recovered quickly and settled into a nice stride. He went to the front and looked very comfortable throughout. He still had plenty in the tank down the lane and kept on running.”

Zabo’s first four races came in California, with two starts each at Santa Anita and Del Mar.

Owned by Lanni Bloodstock and Lou Donato, the 3-year-old, who has the least number of starts (seven) of all Valedictory hopefuls, has blossomed since coming to Woodbine.

“He is becoming more and more comfortable and confident in himself,” Attard said. “You can see it in the way he works and the way he carries himself on race day. Some horses take a little bit of time before they get into a groove. He’s a great example of that.” 

Bred in New York by Chester Broman and Mary R. Broman, the son of Justify out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Pauseforthecause posted a trio of four-furlong breezes in preparation for his first stakes engagement, including a 47.8-second work on Nov. 15.

“He’s shown a lot of focus in the mornings and that has translated over to what he’s shown on race day,” Attard said. “We’re hoping he can keep that momentum going forward into this race and beyond.”

Graded stakes winner Cool Kiss, six-time winner Eff Thirty Five, three-time winner Junipero Serra, graded stakes placed Lost Ark, three-time winner Passing Game and graded stakes-placed Tosen Wish complete the field.

Dual hall of fame trainer Mark Casse, who will start Tosen Wish, has won the past four editions of the Valedictory, including a dead heat for first in the 2022 running and last year with Get Smokin.