Stormy Lord heads Highlander; Musketier seeks second Singspiel score

Stormy Lord flew home in the Connaught Cup last out (WEG/Michael Burns Photography)

While the Queen’s Plate is the top draw on Woodbine’s Sunday program,
a pair of competitive grass races should get the stakes action off to a
good start. A field of 10 sprinters has been entered in the C$200,000

Highlander S. (Can-G2) while the C$150,000

Singspiel S. (Can-G3) drew seven to last 1 1/2 miles.

STORMY LORD (Stormy Atlantic) is the horse to beat in the Highlander
off a front-running, three-length victory in the Connaught Cup (Can-G2)
last out, but the Ian Black trainee won’t have an easy time of it.
Runner-up in the Breeders’ S. last season, the chestnut gelding also
captured the Toronto Cup last July while stretching out to nine
furlongs. James McAleney has been aboard the four-year-old for much of
his career and has the call on Sunday.

Essence Hit Man set a new track record when taking the Jacques Cartier (WEG/Michael Burns Photography)

Silver Timber was last seen visiting the winner’s circle in the Woodford S.
(G3) at Keeneland in October. The Chad Brown charge has been unplaced in three
starts since then, though, including a sixth while going for back-to-back
victories in the Shakertown S. (G3) last out. The gray gelding’s last try at six
furlongs came when he captured the 2009 Jaipur S. (G3) at Belmont Park. Robby
Albarado will pilot the eight-year-old.

Fellow veteran Heros Reward is also seeking a return to his conquering ways,
except the nine-year-old’s winless streak extends all the way back to 2009. That
last victory came in the Mister Diz S. at Laurel Park, but the Dale
Capuano-conditioned gelding has managed to stay active in the interim. He just
missed by a neck in last year’s Highlander and then fell short by a head in an
allowance last out at Parx Racing to next-out Parx Dash H. victor El Churruca
(Monsieur Cat). Sheldon Russell has been aboard for his past two starts and
retains the mount on Heros Reward for the Highlander.

Nordic Truce will be cutting back to six furlongs for the Highlander (EquiSport Photos)

While not making their turf debuts in the Highlander, Paso Doble and Essence
Hit Man both have much more experience running on the main track. Paso Doble,
last seen taking the New Providence S., finished second by a neck in his last
turf try. Essence Hit Man ran seventh in his only try on the grass, but set the
pace in the seven-furlong Vigil before being caught and running second most
recently. Two back the chestnut gelding captured the Jacques Cartier S.

Also entered are last year’s Transylvania S. (G3) hero NORDIC TRUCE
(Yes It’s True) and Canadian Grade 2 winner JUNGLE WAVE (Hold That
Tiger), third in the 2010 Highlander.

Musketier’s only race on Woodbine’s turf resulted in victory (Wendy Wooley/EquiSport Photos)

Musketier will face off against Elkhorn third-placer WINDWARD ISLANDS
(Cozzene) in the Singspiel, as well as Canadian Grade 1 victor RAHY’S ATTORNEY
(Crown Attorney).

Windward Islands raced just three times last year, but made every start count
with a win in the Nijinsky S. (Can-G2), a second in the Sky Classic S. (Can-G2)
and a third in the Northern Dancer Turf S. (Can-G1). The Mark Frostad trainee
looked to continue in that vein this season when placing in the Elkhorn, but was
no factor in the Manhattan H. (G1) most recently, running seventh. Chantal
Sutherland, aboard for his Nijinsky score, has the call.