Woodbine: Musketier outgames stablemate Simmard to wire in Singspiel

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Trainer Roger Attfield, as expected, won the Grade 3 Singspiel Stakes over 1 1/2 miles of turf at Woodbine on Sunday.

But it was the 10-year-old Musketier, the grand old man of the Attfield stable, who proved best as the 5-2 second choice with his 7-year-old stablemate Simmard, favored at 4-5, ending a head back in second.

Big Red Mike set a slow pace in the $154,500 Singspiel but was confronted on the backstretch by Simmard, who took command around the far turn and seemed headed to victory.

Musketier ($7.90), who had dropped back to seventh after racing second through the opening quarter, had improved steadily, loomed into serious contention coming into the stretch, and hooked up in a stirring stretch duel before emerging with the narrow victory under Ramon Dominguez.

“He showed a great turn of foot,” said Dominguez. “I was so happy I was happy to cut the corner turning for home. He angled out, and gave me a great kick.”

Cognashene wound up 9 3/4 lengths back in third with City Wolf, Celtic Conviction, Solitaire, and Big Red Mike completing the order of finish.

The Attfield exacta returned $14.70.

Attfield now has won five of the eight runnings of the Singspiel with three coming courtesy of Musketier, who also captured the 2009 and 1011 editions.

Musketier earned $90,000 to boost his career bankroll past the $1.1 million mark and Attfield said following the race that this year would be the horse’s last at the races