Off longshot win in Grade 1 Natalma, Attard has live one for allowance feature

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Last Call’s longshot score in Saturday’s Grade 1 Natalma was another feather in the cap for trainer Kevin Attard, who has now won every major stakes at Woodbine, with the exception of the Breeders’ and the Canadian International, which won’t be run this year.

With blinkers off, Last Call recorded her first victory in the $508,000 Natalma, after finishing second and then fourth in a pair of maiden special weight turf sprints.

“I knew she’d run well, but I wasn’t too sure that she would win,” Attard said. “I was a little disappointed in her last race. She was working so well going into it. She didn’t really relax that day, so we worked her without [the blinkers] and then took them off. I just think she’s maturing – starting to figure things out.”

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Last Call earned a fees-paid trip to the Nov. 4 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland in the Natalma for X-Men Racing 2 and SF Racing, a partnership that also makes up a portion of the ownership group of this year’s Queen’s Plate winner, Moira.

“I think they’re going to go,” Attard said. “You’ve got a free berth, so I’m sure the owners will enjoy it.”

Attard sends out the probable favorite Velocitor in Thursday’s featured allowance sprint with a $75,000 claiming option for 2-year-olds.

Velocitor was a troubled second when debuting in a maiden-special dash on May 29. A month later, the son of Mor Spirit graduated in front-running style by 7 1/2 lengths with a big 81 Beyer Speed Figure. He has been idle since a third-place finish in the Victoria Stakes on July 17.

“We kind of jammed him into that stakes,” Attard recalled. “It was a quick comeback after he broke his maiden. And then we sent him to the farm for a couple weeks of refreshening. We’ve been gearing up for this race. It’s been carried over for maybe 10 days, but it’s finally filled. It looks like a pretty decent spot.”

Attard said Velocitor showed promise from the time he arrived in his barn.

“First time out, we really expected a good race,” Attard said. “He had a rough trip right from the break and into the turn, but for a young horse to run on and still manage to finish second, I was impressed. His second race, he just put it together.”

Rafael Hernandez returns after a one-race absence to ride Velocitor for owners Al and Bill Ulwelling. They combined with Attard to notch last Thursday’s headliner with Verdejo, and Hernandez also rode Last Call in the Natalma.

The third race drew five others, including the fillies Helluva Holiday, Golden Train, Happy Valentine, and Sixth Anniversary.

The Attard-trained Boss Holiday rounds out the field. He put away a rival up front before drawing clear to beat Ontario-sired and $40,000 maidens in his second start.