Woodbine: Kissable, Forte dei Marmi tune up for major turf stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Kissable and Forte dei Marmi breezed five furlongs in company on a good turf training track here at Woodbine on Sunday for trainer Roger Attfield with respective eyes toward the Oct. 14 E.P. Taylor Stakes and Canadian International.

Exercise rider/assistant trainer Suzanne Lorimer was aboard Kissable, who broke off slightly behind her stablemate and heading into the stretch established an advantage, which she held to the wire under no apparent urging while finishing in 59.20 seconds, breezing.

Patrick Husbands rode Forte dei Marmi, who was clocked in 59.40 with a handily designation while working outside Kissable.

“They’re in good shape,” said Attfield. “I thought Kissable worked very well.”

Kissable is coming off a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Glens Falls over 1 3/8 miles of firm turf at Saratoga last time out while Forte dei Marmi ended third when making his last start there in the Grade 1 Northern Dancer over 1 1/2 miles of good going.

Stormy Lord, who also is under consideration for the Canadian International, breezed four furlongs on the turf training track in 49.80 under jockey Justin Stein.

Trained by Ian Black, Stormy Lord won the PTHA President’s Cup over 1 1/8 miles of
good turf when making his last appearance at Parx Racing near Philadelphia with Jim McAleney in the irons.

The Grade 1, $1.5 million Canadian International is 1 ½-mile turf race for 3-year-olds and upward and the Grade 1, $1 million E.P. Taylor Stakes a 1 ¼-mile turf race for fillies and mares.

The blockbuster Oct. 14 card also will include the Grade 1, $500,000 Nearctic, a six-furlong turf sprint for 3-year-olds and upward, and the Grade 3 Durham Cup, a 1 1/8-mile Polytrack race for 3-year-olds and upward.