Tower of Texas, seventh in last year’s edition of the Woodbine Mile, will be looking to significantly better that placing when he returns for the September 17th renewal.
“We sort of semi-blamed the turf, which was a little soft,” said Roger Attfield, who trains the 5-year-old Tower of Texas for Thomas Van Meter II and Scott Dilworth. “But he didn’t run that bad; he was only beaten about five lengths.”
Tower of Texas has closed smartly to end a close runner-up behind fellow Mile candidate Glenville Gardens in his last two starts, the latest a half-length defeat in the Grade 2 Play the King over seven furlongs of turf.
“He’s probably been unlucky,” said Attfield. “He could as easily have won, as been second.”
Eurico Rosa da Silva regains the mount aboard Tower of Texas after a two-race absence.
Attfield also plans to be represented in Saturday’s two main supporting features with Danish Dynaformer headed for the Grade 1, one and a half-mile Northern Dancer and Goodyearforroses probable for the Grade 2, one and one-eighth mile Canadian for fillies and mares.
Goodyearforroses also is nominated to the Northern Dancer as an insurance policy in the event that Danish Dynaformer did not make the race.
“She’s doing very well,” said Attfield, who owns Goodyearforroses in partnership with Lincoln Collins, “but she probably wants more than a mile and an eighth.”
Goodyearforroses will be looking for her third win in a row and became a stakes winner last time out in the Flaming Page, a one and a half-mile race which was taken off the turf.
Danish Dynaformer was fifth, but beaten just one and a half lengths, when competing in the Grade 1 Arlington Million at one and a quarter miles on the turf last time out.
Tiz A Slam, undefeated in two starts for Attfield and owner/breeder Chiefswood Stable this year, is pointing for the Grade 2 Summer Stakes.
“He’s a very, very nice horse,” said Attfield
The Summer, and its sister companion Natalma Stakes for 2-year-old fillies, will be run the day following the Woodbine Mile program.
Early Look at the Grade 1 Richol Woodbine Mile (9)
Horse/Owner/Trainer/Jockey
Arod / Qatar Racing Limited / Peter Chapple-Hyam / Oisin Murphy
Full Mast / Juddmonte Farms / William Mott / TBA
Glenville Gardens / Janice Attard / Sid Attard / Gary Boulanger
Mondialiste / Geoff and Sandra Turnbull / David O’Meara / TBA
Mr. Owen / Qatar Racing Limited / Francois Rohaut / Jamie Spencer
Mutakayyef / Shadwell Stable / William J. Haggas / Dane O’Neil
Passion for Action / Benjamin Hutzel / Mike DePaulo / Luis Contreras
Tepin / Robert E. Masterson / Mark Casse / Julien Leparoux
Tower of Texas / Thomas F. Van Meter II and Scott Dilworth / Roger Attfield / Eurico Rosa da Silva
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