Lael buys Canadian turf champ

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Sweetest Thing, Canada's champion turf filly last year, has been sold to Gretchen and Roy Jackson of Pennsylvania.

"We thought she was a fabulous racemare," said Gretchen Jackson, "the kind that anyone who loves racing the way we do would be proud to have in their stable." The Jacksons race as Lael Stable.

Sweetest Thing, a 4-year-old filly who has earned $727,734, is to remain at Woodbine with trainer Roger Attfield, who also was a co-owner of the filly along with two of his frequent partners, Mickey Canino of New York and Bill Werner of Chicago.

The purchase price was not disclosed.

Attfield, who sent out Sweetest Thing to work four furlongs in 47.20 seconds on the turf training course here Wednesday, said the filly probably would make her next start at Woodbine July 6 in the $150,000 Dance Smartly, a Grade 3, 1 1/8-mile turf race for fillies.

The Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf, at Arlington Park Oct. 26, is Sweetest Thing's long-term target.