Attfield's Plate Trial contenders still on target despite virus

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Roger Attfield has gotten off to a strong start at the Woodbine meeting with nine wins from his first 26 starts, and he looks to have strong representation for the first big day of the 2015 season on June 14 in the $150,000 Plate Trial Stakes and the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks.

Attfield said he would likely start Danish Dynaformer and Billy’s Star in the Plate Trial as their final preps for the $1 million Queen’s Plate on July 5. Danish Dynaformer would enter the Plate Trial off of a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Marine Stakes here May 16, while Billy’s Star won his maiden in his last start May 8.

Attfield said both horses have been training well since their respective races, but both missed workouts this past weekend as a precaution due to a virus affecting a number of horses on the Woodbine backstretch.

“There’s a virus going around here right now,” Attfield said. “They’ve both had it a tiny bit. They were going to work this weekend, and I didn’t feel that they should. They’re going to be fine, and they’re both heading” to the Plate Trial.

Attfield also will have Leading Edge for the Woodbine Oaks. Leading Edge finished third behind Kentucky-breds Ol’ Fashion Gal and Don’t Leave Me in the Grade 3 Selene Stakes here May 24. Attfield said he was satisfied with Leading Edge’s performance in the Selene and is expecting her to move forward off of that effort.

“It wasn’t bad,” he said. “We’ll have to tweak a little bit, but she could be very strong in the Oaks, I think.”