Trainer Kevin Attard having strong finish at Woodbine

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Kevin Attard is finishing his Woodbine season well, recording six wins and threee seconds from his last 24 starts, dating to Nov. 28. One of those victories came Sunday when Pumpkin Rumble won the Grade 3 Valedictory Stakes. Another Attard runner, Melmich, finished second, just a half-length behind.

“We’ve had a good November and December,” Attard said. “It’s nice to see everybody’s hard work come to hand and finish off strong. The staff puts in a lot of time. Hopefully, we’ll regroup for next spring.”

Only leading trainer Norm McKnight has more wins than either Sid or Kevin Attard going back to Nov. 28, as McKnight has won seven of his last 30 starts.

Kevin Attard said he would be sending around 10 runners to Florida for a winter campaign at Gulfstream Park. Multiple graded stakes winner Starship Jubilee has already made a start at Gulfstream, finishing fourth in the Claiming Crown Tiara Stakes on Dec. 1.

Pumpkin Rumble, meanwhile, recorded his first graded stakes win as well as the first for owners Al and Bill Ulwelling. Attard began training for the Ulwellings last season, and Pumpkin Rumble was one of the first horses that was sent to Attard to train. Attard said the partnership is growing, as he had up to eight horses for the Ulwellings at one point this season.

“I’m very happy for the owners – first graded win – and they’ve put a lot of confidence in me to give me a lot of their horses to train, and we appreciate that,” he said.