Canadian champion turf horse RAHY’S ATTORNEY (Crown Attorney), who scored his
signature victory in last year’s Woodbine Mile (Can-G1), will use Sunday’s 1
3/8-mile
Sky
Classic S. (Can-G2) as a local turf prep for his upcoming title defense. The
Ian Black charge is an unknown quantity at this distance, but he has already
stretched his stamina beyond its previously-suspected limits in his past two
starts. Rahy’s Attorney earned his first win at nine furlongs in the King Edward
H. (Can-G2) two back, setting a new course record at Woodbine in the process,
and last time out, he stayed 1 1/4 miles well enough to land the Nijinsky S.
(Can-G2). The 123-pound highweight figures to be forwardly placed early by
regular rider Slade Callaghan.
The extra furlong in the C$250,000 Sky Classic should play to the strengths
of Nijinsky runner-up MARCHFIELD (A.P. Indy) and third-placer CHAMPS ELYSEES
(GB) (Danehill). Marchfield, Canada’s champion older male last season, finished
strongly in the Nijinsky and whittled the Rahy’s Attorney’s margin down to 1 3/4
lengths. The well-bred bay was a classic winner in his homeland in 2007, having
captured the 1 1/2-mile Breeders’ S. over the Woodbine course. Patrick Husbands
will be back in the saddle aboard the closer for trainer Mark Casse. While
Marchfield is his top contender, Casse will also saddle Grade 2-placed MEDJOOL (Monarchos)
and reformed claimer WOODBOURNE (Danzig), who could try to ensure a fast pace
for his stablemates.
Like Rahy’s Attorney, Champs Elysees is looking further ahead to a title
defense on September 20, in his case the 1 1/2-mile Northern Dancer S. (Can-G1).
Trained by Bobby Frankel for owner/breeder Juddmonte Farms, Champs Elysees was a
distant third in the Nijinsky, beaten a total of 7 1/2 lengths. The full brother
to champions Banks Hill (GB), Intercontinental (GB), et al. was making his first
start back off a three-month layoff, however, and is eligible to take a big step
forward on Sunday. Todd Kabel picks up the mount on Champs Elysees, who has
never finished worse than third at Woodbine. With only a 115-pound impost, he
will receive eight pounds from Rahy’s Attorney.
Another with scope for improvement is last year’s Breeders’ hero, MARLANG (Langfuhr),
who will be making his third start of the season here. The Deborah England pupil
is coming off a fourth in the Seagram Cup (Can-G3) on Polytrack. A confirmed
front runner, Marlang is likely to set the pace in the Sky Classic.
Rounding out the eight-horse field are Nijinsky fourth CATCH THE LUCK (A.P.
Indy) for trainer Mark Frostad and COOL GATOR (Macho Uno), a stablemate of
Rahy’s Attorney.
Earlier on Sunday, five Ontario-bred distaffers will contest the C$100,000
Belle
Geste S. at seven grassy furlongs. The respective top two from the 2008
Belle Geste, GLITTER ROX (Glitterman) and DANCE TO MY TUNE (Stravinsky), will
renew rivalry. Glitter Rox is in the sharper form of the two. In her seasonal
reappearance last time out, the bay mare rallied to victory in the Royal North
S. (Can-G3), with Zadracarta S. winner SASKAWEA (Stormy Atlantic) back in
fourth. Dance to My Tune, who was third in the Zadracarta two back, cuts back in
trip off a tiring fifth in the 1 1/8-mile Dance Smartly S. (Can-G2). Also worthy
of respect is the sophomore MULLINS BEACH (Speightstown), a 3 1/2-length romper
in the Ontario Damsel S. two starts ago for Malcolm Pierce.