Raiders from California and New York won the two big supporting events Sunday on the Woodbine turf course near Toronto but Rahy's Attorney rallied at long odds to carry the day for the home team in the day's biggest event.
Starting at odds of better than 12-1 in the $1 million (Canadian) Woodbine Mile, Rahy's Attorney stayed close behind the early pace, advanced to the leaders on the turn and then took command in the stretch, winning by 1 1/4 lengths over Ventura, a California-based filly. Just Rushing made the early lead and held on for third.
The odds-on favorite and reigning Breeders' Cup Mile champion Kip Deville was tightly held in second place behind a quick pace. But when he was asked by jockey Cornelio Velasquez, he had nothing left in the stretch run.
Rahy's Attorney, under jockey Slade Callaghan, ran the 1 mile on yielding turf in 1:36.14. He is a 4-year-old, Ontario-bred gelding by Crown Attorney out of the Rahy mare Rahy's Hope. Ian Black is the trainer.
"This is a tremendous effort against Kip Deville," said Callaghan. "I thought he (Kip Deville) was heads and tails above the rest of the field in here. But my horse had home advantage."
Rahy's Attorney came into the Mile off three losing efforts, all at longer distances. Asked if this result proved the gelding is a miler, Black said, "I think he must be. I was trying to make him something else."
Since the Woodbine Mile was one of the Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" races, Rahy's Attorney earned a berth into the Breeders' Cup Mile. Because he is not nominated to the series, however, his owners would have to put up a supplemental fee of $180,000 to enter.
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Other races with potential implications for the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita on Oct. 24-25:
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$3 million Emirates Airline Turf
California-based Champs Elysees snapped a four-race losing streak and picked up his second North American win, surviving a five-horse charge to the wire in Sunday's $750,000 (Canadian) Northern Dancer Turf Stakes at Woodine. The photo showed the 5-year-old, British-bred son of Danehill a nose better than Quijano with Seaside Retreat third, another 1/2 length back. Marsh Side in fourth and Spice Route in fifth were only a neck and another neck farther back. Champs Elysees, with Garrett Gomez riding for trainer Bobby Frankel, covered the 1 1/2 miles on yielding turf in 2:32.02. In his last previous start, over yielding ground at Monmouth Park, Champs Elysees finished sixth, beaten only 3 1/2 lengths. The race may have been a prep for the $2 million (Canadian) Pattison Canadian International on Oct. 4. "I don't see why not," said Lord Grimthorpe, racing manager for Juddmonte Farms, owner of Champs Elysees. "Obviously, Bobby will want to see how he comes out of the race. But he goes well on this turf course."
Karnsis, rallying from well back in the field, won Sunday's Mercedes-Benz Grosser Preis von Baden at Baden-Baden by 2 1/2 lenghts over Adlerflug. It's Gino was well back in third. Trainer Peter Schiergen said if Karnsis, a 3-year-old son of Samum, runs again this year, it would be at Cologne in three weeks' time or "a race abroad" -- apparently the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Oct. 5 at Longchamp.
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$2 million Ladies' Classic
The rains came to Belmont Park before Saturday's $300,000 Ruffian Handicap and morning-line favorite Indian Blessing departed, leaving trainer Bob Baffert to saddle only Tough Tiz's Sis. No problem, as the 4-year-old Tiznow filly proceeded to romp to a 12 1/4-lengths victory through the slop. Copper State rallied to finish second and Stage Luck was third. Tough Tiz's Sis, with Edgar Prado up, ran the 1 1/16 miles in 1:40.46. Baffert said by phone from California he scratched Indian Blessing, who has had distance problems this year, "because she doesn't need to run that long. We talked it over and we decided to keep her in the short game. That's what she does best. Of course, I would have felt bad if this one didn't win because I scratched Indian Blessing." He said he told Prado, "Be sure to keep this filly's face clean. She doesn't like dirt in her face. Last year at the Breeders' Cup, she got caught in behind horses and had dirt in her face and it was a complete disaster."
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$1 million Emirates Airline Filly & Mare Turf
J'ray posted a mild upset in Sunday's $300,000 (Canadian) Canadian Stakes at Woodbine, rallying from last of 11 to win by 1 length over Callwood Dancer. The favorite, Sealy Hill, also rallied from far back but her rail bid fell short and she settled for third. J'ray, a 5-year-old, New York-bred mare by Distant View, ran the 9 furlongs on yielding turf in 1:51.86 with Joe Bravo in the irons for trainer Todd Pletcher. It was the second straight win for the New York-based mare, following an off-the-pace victory in the Matchmaker at Monmouth Park a month ago. She now has nine wins for 23 lifetime starts and Bravo said the filly has really "come into herself. I'd say this filly has really got good," said Bravo. "This little filly relaxed back there. She saved all her energy until the turn for home. She exploded and really showed her true colors."
Backseat Rhythm rallied five-wide into the stretch in Saturday's $250,000 Garden City Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Belmont Park and got up to win by 1/2 length over Pure Clan. Ariege was third. The stewards disallowed a claim of foul before making the result official. Backseat Rhythm, a Kentucky-bred daughter of El Corredor, finished the 9 furlongs on yielding turf in 1:51.82. Javier Castellano rode for trainer Patrick Reynolds. Castellano said Backseat Rhythm "loved the yielding course. I think this is the best going for her." Reynolds said he is thinking of the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland Oct. 11. "I hear that when you're invited to the Queen Elizabeth II, they give you a free meal," Reynolds said. "I'm a sucker for that, so we'll see what happens."
Closeout raced near the back of a 13-filly field through much of Saturday's $200,000 Pucker Up Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Arlington Park, then swept around her rivals into the stretch and was just up in time to win by 1/2 length. Pace-setter Lucky Copy was second and Clear Pond was third. Closeout, a Florida-bred daughter of Repriced, ran the 1 1/8 miles on soft turf in 1:53.22, picking up her fourth win in seven starts. Jamie Theriot had the mount for trainer Tom Proctor.
