A soft murmur of excitement rippled through Woodbine Racecourse on Thursday morning as Roger Attfield, eyes sparkling and hands clasped, spoke about his latest hopeful, Ciunas. The dual Hall of Fame trainer, chasing a record tenth Breeders’ Stakes victory, admitted he’s rarely felt this confident before a stakes debut.
Nine three-year-olds are set to tackle the $400,000 Breeders’ Stakes this Sunday, the final jewel of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown. The 1 ½-mile turf test brings an end to the tri-surface series for Canadian-bred sophomores, following Mansetti’s victory in the King’s Plate on August 16 and Runaway Again’s triumph in the Prince of Wales Stakes on September 9.
Ciunas, a gelding by Silent Name (JPN) out of Myrtle’s Gray, makes his first stakes appearance after back-to-back wins—first on Woodbine’s main track, then over the inner turf. His debut on July 6 saw him rally from last to score a 1 ¼-length victory in 1:17.65, prompting Attfield to note, “He has a powerful late kick. That’s the way we kind of want him to run.”
The gelding’s latest 1 1/16-mile turf win on firm ground, by a length in 1:44.44, confirmed his ability to settle early and explode late. “He relaxed early in the race, and he came with his run very effectively,” said Attfield, whose career highlights include three Canadian Triple Crown victories and a record nine Breeders’ Stakes wins.
“He caught my eye right from the breezes,” the 85-year-old trainer added. “He’s coming along very nicely. This is a big step up, but from everything I’ve seen, he should enjoy the mile and a half.”
Attfield sees shades of another star, Gray’s Fable, in Ciunas, recalling the gelding’s half-brother’s determination and love for racing. Ciunas has prepared with sharp five-furlong breezes on the turf training track, clocking :59.60 and :58.80, giving Attfield confidence heading into Sunday’s ninth race post time at 1:05 p.m. ET.
Rachel Halden, last year’s first- and second-place trainer with Roscar and Saccharine, fields Aristella and Borealis Trail. Aristella, a daughter of More Than Ready, arrives fresh off her Wonder Where Stakes victory and looks to extend her stakes consistency, while Borealis Trail, a Quality Road colt, impressed in a late turf surge last out.
The Breeders’ Stakes has a history of surprises. Miami Deco’s 132-1 upset in 2010 remains the longest-priced winner, while female trainers Catherine Day Phillips (2004, 2005) and Rachel Halden have shown the depth of talent in the division. The 135th running promises a competitive, thrilling finish.
Breeders’ Stakes Preview – Field of 9
| Post | Horse | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scat Girl | Daisuke Fukumoto | Mike De Paulo |
| 2 | D’aurum | Pietro Moran | Kevin Attard |
| 3 | Borealis Trail | Jose Campos | Rachel Halden |
| 4 | Ciunas | Sahin Civaci | Roger Attfield |
| 5 | Aristella | Patrick Husbands | Rachel Halden |
| 6 | Watsonville Red | Leo Salles | Mike De Paulo |
| 7 | Faber | Pietro Moran | Kevin Attard |
| 8 | Sedburys Ghost | Ryan Munger | Barb Minshall |
| 9 | Tom’s Magic | Rafael Hernandez | Michael Stidham |
Post time for the 135th Breeders’ Stakes is 1:05 p.m. ET, broadcast live on Sportsnet+ from 5:00–6:00 p.m. ET, with wagering including Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta, and Pick 3 options.
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