Naval Attack makes career debut in Clarendon

De Gannes, Fredericks, and Ramsammy also will be teaming up here Saturday with Naval Attack, who is entered in the $150,000 Clarendon Stakes.

Naval Attack, purchased for $40,000 at the select local yearling sale, will be making his first start in the Clarendon, a 5 1/2-furlong race for Ontario-foaled 2-year-olds.

"I think he's a pretty nice 2-year-old," said De Gannes. "I wouldn't be going in a stake with him in his first start, otherwise."

De Gannes won last year's five-furlong Victoria with the Florida-bred 2-year-old first-time starter Olredlgetcha, who shortly thereafter developed a hock infection and had to be euthanized at the nearby University of Guelph's veterinary clinic.

The Clarendon, which attracted a field of 12, will be one of three stakes races run on Saturday's program.

The others are for 3-year-olds, with the $150,000 Achievement attracting a field of six and the $100,000 Charlie Barley a field of eight.

Essence Hit Man looms a prohibitive choice in the Achievement, a six-furlong race for Ontario-foals. Stormy Lord, a solid winner in the allowance prep over seven furlongs of turf, will be stretching out to a mile for the open Charlie Barley.

Attfield pair tunes up for Singspiel

Spice Route and Perfect Shower, trained by Roger Attfield, both breezed five furlongs on the turf training track here Friday morning in preparation for Sunday's Singspiel.

Exercise rider Suzanne Lorimer was aboard Spice Route, while regular rider Jono Jones worked Spice Route.

The Singspiel, a 1 1/2-mile turf race, will be one of three stakes run here Sunday along with the Queen's Plate and the Grade 2, $200,000 Highlander, a six-furlong turf sprint.

* Ave, also trained by Attfield, breezed four furlongs in a leisurely 52.60 seconds under Patrick Husbands. Attfield is pointing Ave for the Grade 2, $300,000 Dance Smartly, a 1 1/8-mile turf race for fillies and mares here July 18.