Attard debating whether to run Clayton in Breeders' Stakes
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Kevin Attard said he’s unsure regarding whether or not to run Clayton in the $400,000 Breeders’ Stakes on Oct. 24, when Mighty Heart will try to sweep the Canadian Triple Crown.
Clayton was a fading third in the Sept. 12 Queen’s Plate going 1 1/4 miles on Tapeta. When switching to dirt in the 1 3/16-mile Prince of Wales on Sept. 29, he was a much-improved second after going four wide on both turns, finishing 2 1/2 lengths behind Mighty Heart.
The Breeders’ will be run over 1 1/2 miles on the grass, over which Clayton has never competed. A son of 13 percent turf sire Bodemeister, Clayton doesn’t have much turf breeding in his immediate family.
“It’s a possibility,” Attard said. “The distance might be a little bit out of his reach, but he’s doing really well. He worked really well on Sunday. I’m very happy with where he’s at.”
Attard said 2019 Canadian Horse of the Year Starship Jubilee is bypassing Sunday’s $600,000 E.P. Taylor Stakes, a Grade 1 race she won last year.
“The plan has been to head to the Breeders’ Cup from the beginning,” Attard said. “We obviously want to give her her best shot. The timing of the E.P. Taylor is a little too close to the Breeders’ Cup.”
Starship Jubilee beat the boys Sept. 19 in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile and earned a fees-paid berth into the Nov. 7 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland. Attard said she could be pre-entered in the Mile and Filly and Mare Turf.
“I’m very happy with her,” Attard said. “She had a good work on Saturday. So far, so good.”
Attard sent out Malibu Mambo to win a first-level allowance route in front-running fashion off a four-month layoff Sunday. He earned an 86 Beyer Speed Figure.
The runner-up in last year’s Coronation Futurity, Malibu Mambo missed the Queen’s Plate and Prince of Wales but is on target to contest the Grade 3 Ontario Derby on Nov. 21.
“I was really pleased to see him come up with that effort,” Attard said. “He’s a horse I’ve regarded highly from the beginning. It’s unfortunate that we were sidetracked earlier in the year. The Ontario Derby is the last straight 3-year-old race. It makes sense.”
Attard said he’s excited about the Constitution 2-year-old Stephen, who was a fast-closing second in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special on Oct. 4. He was a well-beaten favorite when debuting in the Aug. 30 Simcoe Stakes for graduates of local yearling sales.
“He had trained really good into that two-turn [maiden] race, ran a good race, and got stalled a little,” Attard said. “He showed patience and a good turn of foot.”
Attard said Stephen will probably run back in the $250,000 Coronation Futurity for Canadian-breds here Nov. 1.