Trainer Atfield recorded his 2,000th career win in the dead heat

Roger Attfield is 2,000 in his career like himself I never imagined I would win the rank.

Woodbine's legend reached a career milestone on Saturday when Lady Spitzpia made a gate-to-wire gate-to-wire at $ 175,000 Nassau Stakes. But the moment the wire came, Crystal Cliff was there too. After a few minutes of close observation, the two horses could not be separated and a fever was declared.

"Leave it to Roger Atfield, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame, and leave a spectacular story for his 2,000th victory," said Lady Spitzpia. Said Jockey Emma Jane Wilson.

Lady Speightspeare led from the start of the one-mile turf race, but she lost the lead for a very short time when the flash drive pushed her nose forward. However, Lady Speightspeare quickly regained the lead and connected to the wire. Crystal Cliffs charged late and won half of the glory.

"We couldn't make 2,000 that easy," said Jockey Rafael Hernandez of Crystal Cliffs. "As he went down the lane, he got better and better."

Atfield, 82, came to Canada from his native England in 1970. While many other trainers have built their careers in quantity, he focused on quality, working for top owners and placing horses in the right places to win.

"Until very recently, when much was written about it, I hadn't really thought about it," Attfield said. "Many people win 2,000 races, but they run a lot of horses. It was a good trip."

Lady Speightspeare won her fifth career start in ten careers. I recorded it. A French-bred mare trained by Graham Motion, Crystal Cliff won her fourth race with her nine career starts.

Plate Contender

There is still a lot to decide on the final field of Queen's Plate. However, Rondur has placed himself in the position of a major competitor.

Rondur failed to win the Queenston Stakes on June 12, but was arguably the best at the $ 150,000 Marine Stakes. Riding on Hernandez, Rondur settled in a comfortable position inside when the race's favorite Ironstone took a clear early lead. Hernandez allowed the leader to do him, but he passed by him on a quarter pole. From there he easily withdrew.

"When I participated in this race, I was worried that the timeline between Queenston and this race would be short," said trainer Katerina Vasilieva. "But that wasn't a factor at all."

"I saved (to Hernandez) as much ground as possible and told him to come from behind. I told him as clean as a trip. I wanted him to be. "

Not a factor in last year's two starts, Rondur defeated the maiden in May to a length of 10 and then Queenston. I played against Mink Star. Now the popular Vasilieva is looking forward to the plate on August 21st.

"It's a normal job with a horse," she said. "I'm just going to take care of the horse and do it right next to him."

Also Saturday

At $ 150,000 Selene Stakes, Souper Hoity Toity The long-standing partnership between trainer Mark Casse and jockey Patrick Husbands has brought yet another stakes victory.

On the field of eight horses, Super Whity Toyty, who was sent off 8-1, ran far behind early in the 11/16 mile race. His husband managed to get him closer to the pacesetter. Participating in the dance along the back stretch, in the stretch, he worked by the leader and then postponed his favorite Katiche of even money to win in length.

This is the third victory for a Kentucky-raised 3-year-old mare with five starts. The two horses, Pioneers Edge and Absolute Jewel, both trying to enter the Woodbine Oaks field were fine.

And at the $ 200,000 Highlander Stakes, trainer Wesley Ward moved north on Bound for Noware, and jockey Pablo Morales navigated a lot of traffic to reach the winner's circle.

Morales sat in the midpack early in the 6-Farlong turf race, but he opened the horse to shoot Alzac deeply to win 5-1. I realized that I needed to switch to.

This was the ninth victory for an eight-year-old player who had not raced on the fairground since March with 19 career starts.

OVER EASY

Frosted Over, Canada's top three-year-old man in 2021 won a simple win on Friday's $ 100,000 Dominion Day bet ..

Riding Kimura Kasushi, Frostover tracked Canada's Mighty Heart twice for most of the 11/8 mile race. At once Kimura gave Colt a clue and escaped to a 4¾ long victory.

"He was right next to Mighty Heart and was able to get close quickly," Kimura said. "I just asked him from Three Eight, and he just nailed it."

Worldview

Young French star, Vadeni won the Coral Eclipse Stakes at Sundown, England. Sparkling Water won the Durban July, Africa's wealthiest race, in Grayville, South Africa. After losing the Dubai World Cup, Life Is Good returned to style and easily won John A. Neldo at Belmont Park. And Olympiad won Stephen Foster Hanks at Churchill Downs.