Yorkton might give turf another shot in Connaught Cup

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The speedy sprinter Yorkton may switch to the turf for the $175,000 Connaught Cup Stakes, according to Robert Landry, general manager for the horse’s owner, Chiefswood Stable. The seven-furlong Connaught Cup has Grade 2 status, and will be run here June 1.

Yorkton was a Sovereign award finalist for Canadian champion male sprinter last year. He faded after getting softened up in a speed duel in his season opener in the Grade 3 Jacques Cartier Stakes.

“I was a little disappointed in his race last time,” Landry said. “He might have needed it. He’s doing well. He’s run well on the grass before.”

◗ Trainer Roger Attfield said he was recently sent a 2-year-old full brother to the two-time Canadian champion Are You Kidding Me, named Another Double. Another Double was a $100,000 purchase from the OBS March sale. Since the sale, he has worked three times, including a half-mile breeze in 50.20 on the training track here May 18.

“He’s a nice, big, strong horse,” said Attfield, who sent out the 9-year-old Are You Kidding Me to a third-place finish in Monday’s Eclipse Stakes.

◗ After bypassing the Eclipse, trainer Kevin Attard is aiming the upwardly mobile Special Forces to the Grade 3 Dominion Day Stakes here June 30. Special Forces, a 4-year-old son of Candy Ride, and has won three straight allowance or optional claimers since Attard claimed him for $40,000 from trainer Mark Casse last September.

Attard won four races here last weekend, three of which were going long. He also sent out Jammin Still to finish a troubled second behind the Queen’s Plate nominee He’s a Macho Man in a first-level allowance route.

◗ Turf racing at the meet, delayed because of rainy weather, is scheduled to begin on Friday, when four of the nine events are on the grass.

The Jackpot Hi 5 carryover is at $93,163 for the nightcap, a maiden sprint for fillies and mares on turf that combines Ontario-sired runners with $40,000 claimers.