Special Forces Makes the Grade in Autumn Stakes

Special Forces has been moving up in class ever since he was claimed by trainer Kevin Attard and his partner Soli Mehta.

The 4-year-old Candy Ride  gelding won his first three starts for his new connections after the claim in September 2018 out of an optional claiming race. He finished second in that test for his previous connections—owners Gary Barber and John Oxley, and trainer Mark Casse.

Since then, Special Forces moved to the graded ranks, racing primarily at Woodbine and just missing to place second in three of his previous four starts and third in the other. But the Nov. 3 Autumn Stakes (G2) at the Ontario track proved to be his best race to date, as he closed to take the lead in the final strides.

"It took a little longer than we anticipated (to get a stakes win)," Attard said. "We were real high on the horse from last year, and sometimes you hook small fields and the pace just doesn't set up your way, and today everything went our way."

The 1 1/16-mile test on the all-weather track drew a field of eight in which Mr Ritz was bet down to even money and Special Forces was the 8-5 second choice.

When the gates opened, Salute With Honor took over to set fractions of :24.38, :47.28, and 1:10.96 with Mr Ritz tracking in second, followed by Isotherm and Cooler Mike. The four had a five-length advantage on the others at the half-mile mark, and Special Forces was far back in seventh.

But at the top of the turn, he began to pick off horses, moving into fifth. Coming off the turn, jockey Eurico Rosa da Silva began urging his mount forward and Special Forces delivered, moving well to the outside down the stretch, ranging up on the leader, and then edging to the lead. He completed the distance in 1:42.57 on a fast track, finishing three-quarters of a length in front of Mr Ritz. Cooler Mike got up for third, another 4 1/2 lengths back.

The win marked the sixth of the day for da Silva.

"This horse was in great shape today. Very, very focused, very relaxed," da Silva said. "Riding for Kevin is unbelievable. This man always brings the horse in the best shape they can be, and this horse was his best today. He gave me a lot of confidence, and when I was sitting behind there, it was just a matter of time for me to get going. He was running so focused."

Bred in Kentucky by Machmer Hall, Carrie Brogden, and Craig Brogden, Special Forces is out of the Unbridled's Song mare Special Me, who also produced grade 1 winner Gift Box and grade 2 winner Stonetastic. Gift Box is in training with John Sadler.

Special Forces was offered by Select Sales at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where he was bought by Global Thoroughbreds for $220,000.