Danish Dynaformer gets another Grade 1 try in Canadian International

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Breeders’ Stakes winner Danish Dynaformer did not get an ideal setup in his first try against Grade 1 company in the Northern Dancer Turf Stakes here Sept. 13, but he’ll get another chance this Sunday in the Grade 1, $1 million Canadian International, said trainer Roger Attfield.

Danish Dynaformer put in a six-furlong breeze in 1:14 last Sunday over Woodbine’s turf training track in preparation for the Canadian International.

“He worked nicely,” Attfield said. “Everything looks to be a go, so that’s the aim.”

Danish Dynaformer set a slow pace in the Northern Dancer Turf – covering a half-mile in 52.28 seconds and a mile in 1:43.18 – before fading down the stretch to finish sixth, 6 1/4 lengths behind the victorious Interpol.

“It was unfortunate,” Attfield said. “There wasn’t any pace there, and he jumped ahead on the lead. That’s not the way he really wants to run, but that’s the way it happened. I’m not really sure he liked the turf that much that day either.”

Danish Dynaformer has had a strong 2015 campaign, with four wins from nine starts, including victories in the Plate Trial Stakes and the Breeders’ Stakes and a runner-up effort in the Queen’s Plate. A strong performance in the Canadian International would bolster his case to be named Canada’s top 3-year-old male at the Sovereign Awards next year.

With no stakes left for straight 3-year-olds at Woodbine this season, Attfield said another of his top 3-year-olds, Billy’s Star, will look elsewhere for his next start. Attfield said he was deciding between a pair of 1 1/8-mile turf stakes for Billy’s Star – the Grade 3, $150,000 Hawthorne Derby at Hawthorne this Saturday or the $100,000 Bryan Station Stakes at Keeneland on the Breeders’ Cup undercard Oct. 30.

“I’m swaying toward Kentucky,” said Attfield.

Billy’s Star breezed with Danish Dynaformer last Sunday. The two have been workmates for most of the year, and Attfield moved up their breezes to Sunday since Billy’s Star was unable to work on Woodbine’s main turf course Monday as he will not be running in one of the turf stakes this weekend.

“[Billy’s Star] worked really, really well,” Attfield said. “I worked him with [Danish Dynaformer]. I would have liked to have worked them both on the main turf [Monday], but they wouldn’t let Billy’s Star go out there because he’s not nominated to a stakes.”

Billy’s Star recorded his first stakes win two starts back Aug. 23 in the Victoria Park Stakes and won his maiden earlier in the year. Attfield said Billy’s Star’s record this year is not indicative of his talent level.

“He’s excellent,” he said. “He should have won a lot more than he’s won this year. He’s a nice horse.”

McKnight suspended 60 days

Trainer Norm McKnight’s meet may have come to an early end Monday, when his 60-day suspension handed down by the Ontario Racing Commission went into effect. The suspension stems from a higher-than-permitted total carbon dioxide level last December.

According to racing commission records, the then-5-year-old gelding Eye of the World tested positive for elevated levels of CO2 after finishing third in the fourth race Dec. 7 at Woodbine. Eye of the World had 39.7 millimoles per liter of CO2 in his blood, which is above the maximum allowable level of 39 millimoles per liter for horses racing on Lasix.

McKnight said Sunday he believes “mitigating circumstances” contributed to the positive test. Racing commission records show that McKnight testified at a hearing Sept. 25 that medications used to treat Eye of the World for muscle soreness 10 days prior to the race could have contributed to the positive test.

McKnight said he plans to appeal the decision and apply for a stay to continue training while waiting for his appeal to be heard. In the meantime, McKnight’s horses have been transferred to trainer Carlos Grant.

McKnight said he will apply for stalls at either Aqueduct or Tampa Bay Downs over the winter but was unsure how his suspension would affect those plans.