Tiz a Slam seeks repeat in Singspiel Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Hall of Fame trainer Roger Attfield will try to win the Grade 3 Singspiel Stakes for the ninth time when he sends out Tiz a Slam on Saturday’s Woodbine Mile undercard. This year’s Singspiel is being run at the shortened distance of 1 1/4 miles.

Tiz a Slam won last year’s Singspiel when it was contested over 1 1/2 miles, which was its distance since the inaugural running in 2005. It was part of a three-race win streak for the massive 6-year-old that also included victories in the Grade 2 Nijinsky and Grade 3 Louisville at Churchill Downs.

Tiz a Slam wound up sixth in this year’s Louisville two starts ago. After a slow beginning last out, he was a well-beaten sixth in the Grade 3 Seagram Cup on the Tapeta.

Trainer Barbara Minshall cross-entered Admiralty Pier in the $125,000 Singspiel and Grade 1 Woodbine Mile.

Admiralty Pier has never been better than this year at 5. The front-runner won the Grade 3 Tampa Bay in a gutsy performance Feb. 8. He finished second in both of his races here this summer, most recently behind Woodbine Mile second choice March to the Arch when going a mile in the Grade 2 King Edward.

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“The owners wanted to cross-enter,” Minshall said. “We’ll take a look at the fields. I think he fits in both races. I’ve always looked to stretch him out, but the way the Mile is shaping up, I might go there. Since the beginning of this year, he’s really matured. I’m really happy with him physically. He’s in real top shape.”

Admiralty Pier has been effective coming from off the pace on occasion.

“He’s a fast horse, but if there’s a lot of pace, I think he would rate a bit,” Minshall said. “He’s doesn’t have to be right up there. Obviously, if we were in the Singspiel, I think he’d be cruising up there pretty easy.”

The Mark Casse-trained Tapeta expert Skywire is trying the grass for just the third time off a closing second to the favored Mr Ritz in the Seagram Cup. He defeated Mr Ritz the time before when taking the Grade 2 Eclipse. Both the Seagram Cup and Eclipse were on the Tapeta.

Trainer Graham Motion sends out two Maryland-based runners, the Grade 2-placed Nakamura and Standard Deviation.

Trainer Gail Cox, who upset the applecart with El Tormenta in the 2019 Woodbine Mile, entered Count Again and Say the Word, a recent optional-claiming winner at Saratoga.

◗ There are two $135,000 stakes for juveniles on the card, the Ontario Racing and the Woodbine Cares. Both are at five furlongs on the inner turf.

Ready to Repeat is the most accomplished runner in the Ontario Racing. After his victorious second start, he went gate to wire in the Victoria Stakes on the Tapeta. He’s exiting a stalking third as the favorite in the Soaring Free Stakes on the main turf.

Illegal Smile should be favored in the Woodbine Cares for fillies. The maiden is turning back off a front-running third behind Alda and Dreaming of Drew in the 6 1/2-furlong Catch a Glimpse Stakes.