Two durable campaigners from the Roger Attfield stable engaged in a thrilling stretch-long duel in the Singspiel Stakes (Can-IIIT) (VIDEO) at Woodbine Racecourse, with 10-year-old Musketier emerging on top by a head over 7-year-old Simmard .
By winning the 1 1/2-mile turf test for a third time, having previously won the 2009 and 2011 editions of the Singspiel, Musketier became racing’s newest millionaire and is on track to repeat his 2011 Sovereign Award as Canada’s champion male turf horse.
Musketier was settled into last early by Ramon Dominguez as Big Red Mike took the seven-horse field through a pedestrian pace of :25 2/5 and :51 3/5 before being challenged by Simmard nearing the second turn. Following a brief duel with Big Red Mike, Simmard and Corey Nakatani shook clear and took over, leading into the stretch with a mile completed in 1:40.11.
Musketier was taken off the rail by Dominguez leaving the turn and caught Simmard with an eighth of a mile remaining. Those two drew off from the rest of the field and engaged in a stretch-long duel that ended with Musketier getting a head in front at the wire in a final time of 2:28.07.
The winner paid $7.90, $3.60, $2.70. Simmard, a slight favorite over Musketier, returned $2.60 and $2.20. Cognashene closed late for third, paying $3.40.
Owned by Stella Perdomo, Musketier has won 11 of his 47 career starts, with 12 placings, and earnings of $1,095,383. In addition to his Singspiel hat trick, the German-bred son of Acatenango—Myth and Reality, by Linamix is also a two-time winner of the Elkhorn Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Keeneland, won the 2011 W. L. McKnight Handicap (gr. IIT), and was a group III winner in France before being imported to the U.S.
