Signature Red defends Highlander title; Musketier conquers Singspiel

Signature Red would not be denied a second Highlander win (WEG/Michael Burns Photography)

Norseman Racing Stable’s SIGNATURE RED (Bernstein) captured last year’s

Highlander S. (Can-G2) at Woodbine by a comfortable 1 1/2 lengths. On
Sunday, the Sid Attard trainee successfully defended his title in the
six-furlong turf test, but had to fight every step of the way this time around.

Jockey Luis Contreras settled Signature Red in the second flight of runners
as Essence Hit Man (Speightstown) set the pace for the first half-mile in
fractions of :22 and :44 4/5. Signature Red moved up to the inside of that rival
and took command of the race, but soon had company in the form of Fiddler’s
Patriot (Proud Citizen). Those two were nip-tuck all the way to the wire, with
Signature Red getting his nose down in a head-bob on the line to stop the clock
in 1:09 on the firm grass.

“The owner said (to Contreras), I want you to be right up there,
right up there,” Attard laughed. “I said (to Contreras), listen to him,
listen to the owner, whatever he says, you do.

“This horse is much, much better on the grass. He’s a turf horse,
really. With his class, he always runs good on the ‘Poly,’ but he
doesn’t run as good on the turf.” 

Despite winning this same race 12 months ago, Signature Red wasn’t given much
respect on Sunday as the 6-1 fourth pick. The bay five-year-old rewarded his
backers with payouts of $15.60, $7.80 and $6.

Musketier led home a gray trifecta in the Singspiel (WEG/Michael Burns Photography)

Two races later, Stella Perdomo’s MUSKETIER (Ger) (Acatenango) returned to
the $152,984

Singspiel S. (Can-G3) winner’s circle following a year’s hiatus. Victor in
the 2009 edition, the Roger Attfield pupil only ran twice last season, both at
Keeneland, but entered Sunday’s race off four prior starts as a nine-year-old.

Rahy’s Attorney (Crown Attorney) set the pace in the 1 1/2-mile Singspiel,
posting splits of :26 2/5, :52 3/5, 1:17 2/5 and 1:41. All the while, jockey
John Velazquez had Musketier comfortably stalking the pace in midpack before
sending him four wide while rounding the turn. The gray battled it out with
Grassy (El Prado [Ire]) in the stretch run, just getting his neck in front of
that rival to finish up on the firm turf in 2:29 2/5.

“He’s a grand old horse. He didn’t really get to run the trip we’d
like him to run. I like him to be covered up a little bit,” Attfield
said. “Johnny couldn’t get him covered up, I could see that. Johnny is a
very smart rider and he knows how long this stretch is here. He moved a
little bit earlier than he wanted to, but he took hold of him a little
bit longer so he had some left for the last bit. He did a great job and
he’s a lovely old horse.”

Musketier paid $7.20, $3.80 and $3 as the 5-2 second choice. Windward Islands
(Cozzene) put in a good run but found himself blocked behind horses in the lane.
Jockey Chantal Sutherland waited for a seam to appear, and finally swung
Windward Islands to the outside. Once clear, the gray gelding rallied fast
around rivals but ran out of room and was forced to settle for third, a length
behind Grassy. Simmard (Dixieland Band), Rahy’s Attorney, Solitaire (Victory
Gallop) and Miami Deco (Limehouse) followed the top three under the wire.