Attfield seeks 8th Singspiel win

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Don’t be surprised if the Grade 3 Singspiel is renamed for trainer Roger Attfield someday because the Hall of Famer has won the 12-furlong turf stakes seven times, most recently with Danish Dynaformer in 2016.

Danish Dynaformer will take another kick at the can in Saturday’s renewal at Woodbine. Interestingly, the 6-yearold Charles Fipke homebred hasn’t found the mark since the 2016 Singspiel while competing predominantly in graded stakes in the United States.

Danish Dynaformer has started three times this year. After trailing in the Grade 2 Mervin Muniz Memorial at Fair Grounds in February, he was a much-improved fifth in the Grade 2 Elkhorn at Keenenland. He was favored in the May 25 allowance prep for the Singspiel but had to settle for second behind stablemate Final Copy.

Seven others were entered in the $125,000 Singspiel, including the supplemented Camelot Kitten.

KEY CONTENDERS

Danish Dynaformer, by Dynaformer Last 3 Beyers: 91-97-78

◗ Two of his five tallies came over Woodbine’s roomy course, including the 2015 Breeders’ Stakes, the third leg of the Canadian Triple Crown.

Final Copy, by Malibu Moon Last 3 Beyers: 94-64-83

◗ The Chiefswood Stable homebred set soft fractions over firm ground en route to a daylight score in the 10-furlong prep, which was a pickup mount for journeyman Steven Bahen.

“He came out of the race good,” said Chiefswood general manager Robert Landry. “I quite like that horse. I thought Stevie would suit him. We breed them to be able to run classic distances.”

Johnny Bear, by English Channel Last 3 Beyers: 87-80-55

◗ He won the Sovereign Award for Canadian champion male turf runner in 2017 after upsetting Hawkbill in the Grade 1 Northern Dancer Turf. He flattened out to be fifth after an inside, stalking trip in the Singspiel prep, his first outing in 6 1/2 months.

Seeking Albert, by Einstein Last 3 Beyers: 63-90-86

◗ The 4-year-old ran fourth in both the Breeders’ Stakes and the Northern Dancer Turf last year. When returning from an 8 1/2-month layoff in a second-level optional claimer June 3, he faded to 11th after racing in fourth on the backstretch.

“That last race going a mile was just too short for him,” trainer Mike De Paulo said. “We tried to have him sit a little closer. It didn’t seem to work. A mile and a half is what he’s bred to do and wants to do. He’s a bigger, stronger horse this year.”

Shahroze, by Holy Roman Emperor Last 3 Beyers: 87-83-85

◗ The Graham Motion trained shipper from Maryland is coming off a victory in a firstlevel allowance at Belmont.