All Eyes On Woodbine for the G2 Sky Classic Stakes: Preview, Photos and Picks Inside

Sunday marks the running of the Grade Two $250K Sky Classic Stakes at Woodbine. This 1 3/8M turf spectacular is sure to be a thriller featuring four entrants from the Nijinsky Stakes won by Rahy's Attorney. Returning to tackle the multiple graded Stakes winning son of Crown Attorney are Champs Elysees, Marchfield and Catch the Luck. Free past performance charts for the Sky Classic Stakes are being offered by Equibase.

Rahy's Attorney Tries For The Hat Trick on Sunday


P# Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 Catch the Luck (ON) E R Da Silva 115 M R Frostad 15/1
2 Champs Elysees (GB) T Kabel 115 R J Frankel 4/1
3 Marlang (ON) R A Dos Ramos 115 D England 8/1
4 Cool Gator (ON) E Wilson 115 I Black 15/1
5 Rahy's Attorney (ON)S Callaghan 123 I Black 9/5
6 Medjool (KY) C Fraser 115 M E Casse 15/1
7 Marchfield (ON)P Husbands 121 M E Casse 2/1
8 Woodbourne (ON) S P Husbands 115 M E Casse 15/1

I visited the three main contenders on shedrow Saturday morning and found them all to be in good spirits. Champs Elysees was happy to have a little attention and when I commented to his trainer Brian Lynch that Champs seems to like having his picture taken, Lynch laughed, "He should do. He gets it taken often enough!" Lynch went to say that the GI winner has been training well and is ready for this event.

Champs Elysees shows us his good side


Rahy's Attorney was frisky in his stall and obviously looking forward to his morning gallop. Assistant trainer Jeff Bowen commented on the high-cruising speed of the five-year-old and believes that despite the multiple pace setters entered in the race, that at some point Rahy's Attorney will make the lead.

Rahy's Attorney poses with his biggest fan


Marchfield was making up ground deep in the stretch last out against Rahy's Attorney in the Nijinsky Stakes. This time around trainer Mark Casse has entered two additional horses, Medjool and Woodbourne, to force a quick pace. Marchfield is a compact horse with an explosive kick in the stretch and will certainly be charging hard down the lane.

Marchfield plans on marching to victory in Sunday's Sky Classic Stakes


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(And now for a proper preview)

Rahy's Attorney has done little wrong in three starts in 2009. In his season opener, Rahy's Attorney set a pulsing pace in the 1 1/16M GIII Connaught Cup carrying 126 pounds. Travelling one mile on the turf course, Rahy's Attorney raced through fractions of 46.94 and 1:10.28 for jockey Slade Callaghan only to be caught at the wire by Sterwins in a track record time of 1:38.99.

In his next start, Rahy's Attorney exacted a measure of revenge by defeating Sterwins in the GII King Edward Handicap at a distance of a mile and an eighth. Callaghan stole to the lead once again hitting the markers in 47.83 and 1:10.35 before being challenged by the multiple graded stakes winner Sterwins at the top of the stretch. This time, Callaghan and Rahy's Attorney would not be passed and sped through the wire in a track record time of 1:44.73. It was a record that had stood for fourteen years, the previous record of 1:45.20 being set by Bold Ruritana on June 18, 1995.

Marchfield got close to Rahy's Attorney last out and will appreciate the added distance


For an encore, the Ian Black trained gelding took on multiple graded winners Champs Elysees and Marchfield in the mile and a quarter GII Nijinsky. A soft turf course ensured there would be no track record this time, but Rahy's Attorney was equally impressive muscling the lead away from French Beret after a slow quarter then opening up a five-length lead by the half. As Callaghan led his charge through the stretch, still maintaining a five-length lead, Marchfield and Champs Elysees chased in vain but could not make up meaningful ground resigned to finish second and third respectively.

Champs Elysees will be dangerous on Sunday with a race under his belt


The Sky Classic Stakes offers yet another new challenge for Rahy's Attorney as he opens up a notch progressing to 1 3/8M on what will likely be a soft turf course.

Rahy's Attorney defeated Marchfield and Champs Elysees to win the Nijinsky


Several of these horses are using the Sky Classic as a springboard to other events. Rahy's Attorney is preparing to defend his title in the Woodbine Mile, while Champs Elysees and Marchfield look towards the Northern Dancer and/or The Canadian International. Marchfield's trainer Mark Casse has entered two other runners in the event including turf maiden Medjool and the speedy Woodbourne who will serve as a rabbit to keep Rahy's Attorney honest. Woodbourne is a five-time turf winner and is on a two-race win streak albeit in upper claiming events at Woodbine.

Eurico Rosa Da Silva will need a lot of luck with Catch The Luck


Let's take a look at the field.

1 Catch the Luck (ON) E R Da Silva 115 M R Frostad 15/1
Catch the Luck makes his eighth start of the meet on Sunday having finished in the money five times with two wins. In his first victory, a 1 1/16M allowance tilt on the poly, CTL outfinished Cool Gator to take the spoils. The second victory was a 1 1/8M optional claiming event that came off the turf and CTL rallied impressively from ten lengths back to score over Medjool. However, this turf maiden is in against a very tough group of turf vets and will be lucky to catch a piece on the fringes.

2 Champs Elysees (GB) T Kabel 115 R J Frankel 4/1

Todd Kabel gets the call on Champs Elysees replacing Alan Garcia. That's not the downgrade that non-Woodbine punters think it might be. Kabel is an accomplished journeyman with 8 wins in 41 turf mounts this meet and is in the money with 34.1% of his mounts on the lawn. Last out, Champs Elysees tried the GII Nijinsky off a three-month layoff and valiantly chased home Rahy's Attorney and Marchfield. The added distance and the recent 5F breeze in 1:00.40 work in his favour. Expect to see the son of Danehill closing late.

3 Marlang (ON) R A Dos Ramos 115 D England 8/1

Marlang peaked last August winning the 1 1/2M third leg of the Canadian Triple Crown on the turf and then doubled up in the GIII Saranac at Saratoga. Marlang tried for a hat trick in the GI Canadian International and kept the pace until the half before fading. Champs Elysees, entered here, finished third in the International. The son of top turf sire Langfuhr has had just two starts in 2009 and has yet to notch a win. His most recent effort was a fading fourth in the Seagram Cup on the polytrack. Considering the distance and multiple front-end runners in here, it's hard to see Marlang repeating August glory.

4 Cool Gator (ON) E Wilson 115 I Black 15/1

Ian Black sends out Cool Gator for his first try on the Woodbine turf course. Two previous turf tries at Gulfstream resulted in one third place showing against allowance competition. Since joining Black's barn in May from Joe Orseno, Cool Gator has raced four times and finished less than five lengths back of Marchfield in two of those events. Jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson has taken this cool customer to the winners circle previously but the horse does seem up against it here. Expect Wilson to get this one up for a piece on the fringes.

5 Rahy's Attorney (ON)S Callaghan 123 I Black 9/5

Rahy's Attorney has developed into one of the best turf horses on the continent. He's not as well known as Gio Ponti, but he's frighteningly consistent (22-9-3-4). The big gelding is so respected that multiple rabbits are entered to keep the pace upfront honest. The only problem with that approach is that last time out Rahy ate the rabbit for dinner and had extra energy in the stretch. Trainer Ian Black isn't bothered. "I don't know why everybody thinks that this horse needs the lead," said Black. "He never used to have the lead. It's just when there's no pace, he's been in front." Regardless, this race is a real test but should Rahy's Attorney come out on top he deserves all the attention that Gio Ponti currently claims.

6 Medjool (KY) C Fraser 115 M E Casse 15/1

A four-year-old colt by Monarchos, Medjool has three third place finishes in six starts this year. Last out, Medjool tried the lead in a mile and a quarter turf allowance and held on encouragingly to finish fifth three lengths back. Back on December 26, 2008 MedJool tried the GIII Sir Beaufort Stakes at Santa Anita and finished a closing second to Gio Ponti in a race taken off the turf. Since that event, Medjool has struggled to regain that form and looks to be outmatched here.

7 Marchfield (ON)P Husbands 121 M E Casse 2/1

Woodbine's leading rider Patrick Hubands gets the call on five-year-old Marchfield. Since arriving at Woodbine in June, Marchfield was a closing second in the GIII Eclipse; won the GIII Dominion Day Handicap impressively at a mile and a quarter dialing up a 102 speed figure; and last out closed from 12 lengths back to finish second to a cruising Rahy's Attorney. With Marlang and Woodbourne applying pressure to Rahy's Attorney on the front end, there will be plenty of pace for Husbands to chase down the lane.

8 Woodbourne (ON) S P Husbands 115 M E Casse 15/1
Woodbourne boasts back-to-back wins on the E.P. Taylor turf course...against claiming competition. The son of Danzig is a cool customer hitting the board in eight of thirteen lifetime starts. On August 16, 2008 Woodbourne sprinted 6 1/2 F on the turf in 1:16 and held off Catch The Luck in the process proving he does have the speed to test. However, maintaining that speed, at this level, for a 1 3/8M is a big ask. Simon Husbands knows his way around the Woodbine turf and will be sure to keep the pace honest aboard Woodbourne for his stablemate Marchfield.

Jockey Slade Callaghan has the difficult task of measuring the pace with Rahy's Attorney who is content to rate or lead the pack. Marchfield and Champs Elysees are fresh and ready to chase the leaders home in the long, gruelling Woodbine stretch. I would expect a blanket finish here with Rahy's Attorney keeping a head in front for the victory. A safe play of boxing the above trio in your exotics should provide a modest return.

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What an incredible day for Woodbine horse people at Saratoga on Saturday. Trainer Josie Carroll sent out Kentucky-bred Careless Jewel in the Alabama Stakes versus Scott Fairlie's Milwaukee Appeal and Canadian-Bred Wynning Ride. Though Milwaukee Appeal went off as the favourite, jockey Rob Landry would find the wire 11 lengths in front of Fairlie's filly in an impressive romp. Milwaukee Appeal dug in valiantly to finish second.

Rob Landry guides Careless Jewel to victory in the Alabama Stakes


A NYRA press release provided the following quotes.

Josie Carroll, winning trainer, Careless Jewel (No. 5): “She’s been a filly that’s been on the lead, but she’s been starting to relax more and more and we thought that if she had to[sit off the pace], she could, and fortunately we were right. There was a lot of jostling in there and I got really concerned – I thought she was going to get dropped into that first turn and I think Robert [Landry, jockey] did a great job with her. He got her outside and got her settled. I think knowing the horse was a huge advantage today. He got her to settle beautifully. We had looked in this direction if we jumped up and ran well in Delaware. The one thing about this filly, she’s made the lead and she’s kicked on. I think it’s very special when a horse can make pace and kick on. That gave us a lot of confidence in her. It doesn’t get much better than this.”

Robert Landry, winning jockey, Careless Jewel (No. 5): “She’s a great filly and I give a lot of credit Josie (Carroll, Trainer) and I appreciate the owners for giving me the opportunity to ride her in such a big race. I’ve had a lot of confidence in her and she had a couple pre-race antics but when they can overcome that and win the way she did; she’s a special filly.”

With regard to “pre-race antics”: “You don’t want to see horses doing that because they do take something out of themselves but she showed up and did her job when it counted and I’m really proud of her. She acts up a little bit. I think the crowd had something to do with it. She’s not used to this many people which is great because I’m sure the Breeder’s Cup will have a bunch of people and hopefully she can end up there.”

About the trip: “I had a pretty good start. After the first turn I got squeezed out pretty good into the first turn. I was trying to get her back off that horse and I couldn’t really get her back quick enough so I had to check her pretty hard into the first turn. After that the trip was pretty uneventful. When I asked her, she responded. It takes a good horse to overcome what she did today.”

Scott Fairlie, trainer of favored runner-up Milwaukee Appeal (No. 8): "She ran huge. She had the perfect trip. She was second-best today. Coming down the stretch, I was hoping she would hold on for second. I was very happy with her. She’ll go back home and see what happens from here."

John Velazquez, jockey aboard runner-up Milwaukee Appeal (No. 8): “It was a good race, a perfect trip. She ran a great race, it was just that [Careless Jewel] was better.”

Congratulations to all the Woodbine connections for their efforts in the Alabama Stakes. There is plenty of talent up here in Rexdale, ON and it's great when Woodbine locals travel and take the spoils.

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As you might imagine, I took plenty of photos on my backstretch trip on Saturday and will post a photo essay on Monday including shots from workouts at sunrise until my final yawn at 10AM.

Post-Time for today's Sky Classic Stakes is 4:38PM.