Attard stable stacked for Catch a Glimpse, Soaring Free
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The incomparable John Velazquez is well-mounted in the two 6 1/2-furlong turf stakes for 2-year-olds on Saturday’s King’s Plate undercard at Woodbine. The Hall of Famer rides Meloni for trainer Kevin Attard in the $150,000 Catch a Glimpse for fillies and Through the Years for trainer Wesley Ward in the $150,000 Soaring Free.
Meloni prevailed in a front-end battle when debuting in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight on the Tapeta here June 27. She won by 1 3/4 lengths and earned a 72 Beyer Speed Figure under Kazushi Kimura.
A daughter of American Pharoah, Meloni is out of turf stakes-placed Black Canary, the dam of Soaring Free winner Golden Canary, a filly who beat the boys in that race. Meloni has worked fast on the dirt, turf, and Tapeta since her debut.
“She’s worked really well in the interim,” Attard explained. “She had a nice work on the [turf training course]. I’m excited to see her come back.”
The unbeaten Saratoga shipper Ghost Me could vie for favoritism with Meloni. Trained by George Weaver, the Ontario-bred won her opener in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight on the Saratoga turf before doubling up in the 5 1/2-furlong My Dear Stakes here on the Tapeta.
Mo Cookie has license to enjoy the roomy main turf and could be a live longshot. She raced twice on the Tapeta, winning her debut before a wide fifth in the My Dear.
“The last time she ran, she never switched leads,” trainer Mike De Paulo said. “We found a little something that was pinching her a little. She’s a big, strong filly. Her half-sister Scat Girl was okay on the grass. She finished second in the Wonder Where Stakes.”
Two were cross-entered in the two stakes: the debuting Humble and Kind for trainer Mark Casse and My Dear Stakes runner-up Mrs D for trainer Steve Chircop.
Soaring Free
De la Renta is one of two promising Attard trainees in the Soaring Free, along with Quipster.
De la Renta was favored at first asking under Velazquez here July 19, when the daughter of Woodbine Mile victor Oscar Performance led throughout a six-furlong maiden special weight on the Tapeta and got a 79 Beyer.
“I haven’t had a chance to work her on the turf, but she has a very strong [turf] pedigree,” Attard pointed out. “She’s always shown some ability and ran to it first time out. Hopefully, she makes that next progression now.”
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Quipster was a workmanlike debut winner when favored in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight on the Tapeta here June 28.
“I think he’s improving,” Attard said. “He worked well heading into his first race and ran well. Him and Meloni have been working together. It was hard to separate them.”
Irish-bred Through the Years graduated second time out on the grass at Aqueduct before finishing 16th of 21 in the Group 2 Norfolk at the prestigious Royal Ascot meet. Lasix is added by Ward.
Uncle Dodo is changing surfaces without much turf in his pedigree. The stretch-runner by Uncle Mo earned his diploma second time out in the 5 1/2-furlong Victoria Stakes for trainer Barbara Minshall.
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