January 6, 2025

Musketier denies Simmard in Singspiel; Smokey Fire sizzles in Highlander

Last updated: 6/24/12 8:09 PM











Musketier just outgamed his stablemate Simmard in the Singspiel

(Courtesy of WEG/Michael Burns Photography)

Musketier headed stablemate Simmard in taking his third

Singspiel Stakes
crown, giving trainer Roger Attfield a one-two finish in
the Grade 3, $150,793 turf event. The 1 1/2-mile affair was one of three graded
turf contests on the Queen’s Plate undercard at Woodbine on Sunday.

A 10-year-old son of Acatenango, Musketier dueled with Simmard the length of
the E.P. Taylor Turf Course in the Singspiel, neither one giving an inch. At the
wire, Musketier, owned by Stella Perdomo, took all the spoils. The gray, who had
won the 2009 and 2011 editions, gave Attfield his fifth win in eight runnings of
the race.

“He had a great turn of foot,” jockey Ramon Dominguez. “He was in top form
today. When he angled out, he had a great kick. The other horse wasn’t giving
up.”

For Attfield, whose first Singspiel triumph came courtesy of Daddy Cool in
2005, it was a doubly good result.

“I was cheering for both of them,” the Hall of Fame conditioner remarked. “Musketier
is a wonderful old horse. He’s still a battler. I’m proud of both. I love them.”

Musketier paid $7.90, $3.60, $2.70 as the near 3-1 second choice to Simmard’s
4-5 favoritism. Cognashene was third, 9 1/4 lengths behind, in the race timed in
2:28 over the firm going. City Wolf, Celtic Conviction, Solitaire and Big Red
Mile completed the order under the wire.

Musketier now owns seven stakes wins, including the Grade 2 W. L. McKnight
Handicap and two runnings of the Grade 2 Elkhorn Stakes. His record following
the Singspiel stands at 11-6-6 from 47 starts and he’s earned $1,095,383 in his
time on track.










Smokey Fire lit up the track in the Highlander

(Courtesy of WEG/Michael Burns Photography)

Smokey Fire, making his first start since October 2010, was full of run down
Woodbine’s long E.P. Taylor Turf Course stretch in taking the Grade 2,
$230,726

Highlander Stakes
 earlier on the card.

Sent off at 17-1 in the Highlander, the Jim Dandy Stable silk-bearer tracked
down a tough Essence Hit Man, who took the field through opening splits of :21
4/5 and :43 4/5. Smokey Fire encountered traffic trouble in upper stretch and
was forced to angle out under jockey Eurico Rosa da Silva but got up to be 1 1/4
lengths clear of Essence Hit Man. 

The pacesetter held on for second, nosing out Gypsy Ring who in turn was a
neck in front of Fiddlers Patriot on the wire.

“He was running very focused,” da Silva said. “He kicked in and he was
running strong. He was in great shape.”

Smokey Fire recorded a final time for six furlongs over the firm turf in a
blistering 1.07.77, just a fraction off the track record of 1:07.39 established
by Starticus on July 5, 2008.



Trainer Sid Attard was glad to see the gray gelding find his way back to the
winner’s circle. 

“When he was so far back, I was worried,” the veteran conditioner admitted.
“I didn’t want to see him get stuck in traffic. He ran a great race.”

Smokey Fire paid $37.50, $14.20 and $6.90 in taking his seven-year-old bow.
Following the top four under the line were Stormy Rush, Bear Tough Tiger, Fatal
Bullet, Artic Fern and Surfrider.

Smokey Fire won three of six races in 2010, including a neck score in the
Grade 2 Play the King and a one-length triumph in the Mt. Sassafras. The son of
Smoke Glacken improved his career mark to read 15-8-3-1 with the Highlander
added to his resume, and boasts $703,173 in lifetime earnings.

Sandwiched in between the Highlander and Singspiel, Riding the River proved
best in the Grade 2, $252,784
King
Edward Stakes
as the 13-1 longest shot on the board.

Trained by David Cotey for Dominion Bloodstock, HGHR Inc. and Linmac Farm,
the gelded son of Wiseman’s Ferry rated in last beneath jockey Todd Kabel as
Hothersal and Stormy Lord set the pace through splits of :23 1/5, :45 4/5 and
1:09 2/5. Riding the River angled out rounding the turn and launched a furious
six-wide rally in the lane to just get his neck in front of Big Band Sound on
the wire

Riding the River paid $29.20, $11 and $4.30 for running a mile on the turf in
1:32 4/5. Big Band Sound had a head to spare on third-placer Hollinger, while
2-1 favorite Hothersal finished fourth. Trend and Stormy Lord completed the
order under the wire.

Riding the River scored his first win in a year in the King Edward, though
the bay five-year-old did just miss by a head in the Grade 2 Play the King last
August. He is now 7-1-2 from 17 career starts and winner’s share from the King
Edward boosted his earnings to $413,321.



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