Tower of Texas seeks repeat win in Connaught Cup

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Among a host of shippers, Tower of Texas has the home-field advantage in the $175,000 Connaught Cup at Woodbine on Saturday, when the 7-year-old will try to win the seven-furlong turf stakes for the second year in a row under Eurico Da Silva.

Trained by Hall of Fame trainer Roger Attfield, Tower of Texas has started three times this year. He won the Col. E.R. Bradley Handicap over soft ground at Fair Grounds on Jan. 13, closing along the inside before going wide in the stretch to prevail by 1 1/2 lengths under Florent Geroux.

“He got a great ride that day,” Attfield said. “He doesn’t mind when it’s soft.”

Tower of Texas wound up third behind Economic Model and Irish War Cry in his first start on dirt in the Grade 3 Hal’s Hope at Gulfstream in February. He had a wide trip most recently when five lengths behind Heart to Heart in eighth place in the Grade 1 Maker’s 46 Mile at Keeneland.

“He’s in great shape,” Attfield said. “He’s doing as well as he’s ever done. He came out of his last race well. I’m looking forward to running him.”

Seven others were entered in the Grade 2 Connaught Cup, including the Kentucky-based Bondurant, who was supplemented by trainer Ian Wilkes.

KEY CONTENDERS

Tower of Texas, by Street Sense

Last 3 Beyers: 96-97-96

◗ Attfield said he is hoping for an honest pace, which should be the case with the longshot sprinter Yorkton in the lineup.

“If he gets enough pace up front, he’s very dangerous,” Attfield said.

Forge, by Harlan’s Holiday

Last 3 Beyers: 101-86-105

◗ The Bill Mott-trained Saratoga shipper has kept some formidable company this year. He was second to champion World Approval in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Stakes in February and is exiting a third in the Maker’s 46 Mile.

Camelot Kitten, by Kitten’s Joy

Last 3 Beyers: 88-95-93

◗ He won the Kentucky Cup Classic over Turfway’s Polytrack in March and is coming off a seventh in the Grade 1 Early Times Turf Classic at Churchill Downs.

◗ Seven furlongs seems a little short for the Mike Maker charge.

Caribou Club, by City Zip

Last 3 Beyers: 94-80-91

◗ Maryland-based trainer Tom Proctor sent him out to take the Henry S. Clark Stakes at Laurel on April 21.

Conquest Panthera, by Kitten’s Joy

Last 3 Beyers: 98-94-98

◗ He rallied wide for second last time out in the seven-furlong Elusive Quality Stakes at Belmont.

Dimension, by Medicean

Last 3 Beyers: 83-69-96

◗ The erratic 10-year-old has competed in this race in each of the past four years, winning it at 20-1 in 2016.