Rahy's Attorney, who got back on track last out with a win in the King Edward Handicap (Can-IIT), will seek his fourth graded stakes score at Woodbine when he faces a tough field in the $300,000 Nijinsky Stakes (Can-IIT) July 26 on the turf in Toronto.
The 5-year-old gelding by Crown Attorney went wire-to-wire in winning the nine-furlong King Edward June 27, but will now stretch out an extra furlong in the Nijinsky – a race in which he finished fourth a year ago. Rahy’s Attorney is winless in four lifetime starts at 1 1/4 miles or longer. He will face six capable rivals in Woodbine’s feature.
A Canadian homebred of Ellie Boje Farm, Rahy’s Attorney finished off the board in his final two starts of 2008 after winning the Woodbine Mile for his first grade I triumph. The Ian Black trainee opened his 2009 campaign with a runner-up finish in the Connaught Cup (Can-IIIT).
An earner of $1.26 million, Rahy’s Attorney will be ridden by Slade Callaghan.
Juddmonte Farms’ homebred Champs Elysees will try to return to his 2008 form when he won three times, including the Northern Dancer Turf Stakes Presented by Vtech at Woodbine and the Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes, both grade I events. The 6-year-old English-bred son of Danehill is winless in three starts this season, including a disappointing seventh-place finish as the favorite last out in the April 24 Elkhorn Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Keeneland. Alan Garcia will ride for trainer Bobby Frankel, as Champs Elysees carries top weight of 126 pounds.
Roger Atffield trainee Spice Route was graded stakes placed twice on the Woodbine turf a year ago, and seems to be in nice form in 2009. The 5-year-old gelding by King's Best won the Elkhorn by two lengths, then was a close runner-up in the Louisville Handicap (gr. IIIT) May 23 at Churchill Downs. He was fourth in his most recent start, the July 4 United Nations (gr. IT) at Monmouth Park, but had to overcome a treacherous start when hitting the gate at the break. James McAleney will have the mount.
Melynk Stables’ Marchfield enters off a victory in the 10-furlong Dominion Day Handicap (Can-III) on Woodbine’s Polytrack earlier this month, where he came from well off the pace to get up late under leading rider Patrick Husbands. The son of A.P. Indy has made just four of his 20 career starts on turf. Husbands is back aboard for trainer Mark Casse.
Rounding out the field are French Beret, third in last year’s Nijinsky, 4-year-old Marlang, winner of the Saranac Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Saratoga last summer, and Catch the Luck, who has scored consecutive allowance races on the Woodbine Polytrack for trainer Mark Frostad.
Post time is set for 3:57 p.m. EDT.
$300,000 Nijinsky Stakes (Can-IIT, Race 7, 3:57 p.m.), 3 & Up, 1 1/4 Miles (Turf)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Marchfield (ON), P Husbands, 121, M E Casse
2. Champs Elysees (GB), A Garcia, 126, R J Frankel
3. Spice Route (GB), J McAleney, 123, R L Attfield
4. Rahy's Attorney (ON), S Callaghan, 123, I Black
5. Catch the Luck (ON), E R Da Silva, 115, M R Frostad
6. French Beret (ON), T Kabel, 121, M R Frostad
7. Marlang (ON), R A Dos Ramos, 119, D England
