Special Forces Faces High-Profile Foes in Autumn

Eight hopefuls, including multiple graded stakes winner Special Forces , reigning Canadian Horse of the Year Mighty Heart , and 2019 Belmont Stakes (G1) champ Sir Winston , are set to contest the CA$175,000 Autumn Stakes (G2) Oct. 14 at Woodbine. 

A 6-year-old son of Candy Ride   trained by Kevin Attard, who co-owns with Soli Mehta, Special Forces will chase his second Autumn score, having won the 1 1/16-mile Tapeta event for 3-year-olds and upward two years ago. 

Sporting a record of 6-6-2 from 20 starts, the chestnut, bred in Kentucky by Machmer Hall and Carrie and Craig Brogden, has finished in the top three in 12 straight starts and heads into Sunday's race off a win in the Durham Cup (G3) Oct. 10.

Sent off at 6-1, the gelding, under Justin Stein, rallied strongly down the lane to secure a half-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile race stopping the clock in 1:42.36. Sir Winston was second, Halo Again  finished third and Mighty Heart was fourth. All four are set to square off in the Autumn. 

Claimed by Attard for $40,000 just over three years ago, the Durham Cup was the first trip to the winner's circle for Special Forces since taking the 2019 Autumn. 

"I think he's always been a good horse," said Attard. "Up until he got injured he was running against the best older horses on the grounds at Woodbine and was competing right with them. Any time you have to stop a horse for an extended period of time you always wonder, 'Have they lost a step?' or consider what level they'll be able to come back at. I think he's obviously put that to rest after his last race." 

Attard, nearing 570 career training wins, continues to be impressed by his consistent and resilient performer. 

"Before we ran him the first time this year, I knew he was good and back to himself. I was eagerly awaiting him getting back to the races. There aren't many times you come back and hook a Belmont winner (Sir Winston on Aug. 19). We ran a good second. I was happy with the race that my horse ran."  

Special Forces made his debut May 25, 2017, at Churchill Downs, finishing fifth. He broke his maiden in his seventh start Aug. 5, 2018, in a maiden optional claiming race at Woodbine. 

"He just has a great turn of foot," raved Attard. "He really closes hard down the lane. He's an exciting horse to watch and a horse we claimed which makes it even more special just to see the improvement in him. He likes to sit at the back of the pack and come with a big run. Those ones are always exciting to watch."  

Sir Winston and Mighty Heart are both three-time winners on the main track at Woodbine, and Halo Again is looking to improve in his second start following a 13-month layoff.

Entries: Autumn S. (G2)

Woodbine, Sunday, November 14, 2021, Race 8

• Grade II
• 1 1/16m
• All Weather Track
• $175,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 4:25 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Special Forces (KY)	Justin Stein	124	Kevin Attard	5/2
2	2Vanzzy (KY)	Rafael Manuel Hernandez	121	Michael V. Pino	10/1
3	3Primo Touch (KY)	Eswan Flores	121	Harold Ladouceur	20/1
4	4Sir Winston (KY)	Antonio A. Gallardo	121	Mark E. Casse	9/5
5	5Faraway Kitten (KY)	Luis Contreras	121	Denyse McClachrie	20/1
6	6Halo Again (ON)	Shaun Bridgmohan	121	Steven M. Asmussen	6/1
7	7Embolden (VA)	Mauricio Malvaez	121	Sandra Dominguez	20/1
8	8Mighty Heart (ON)	Patrick Husbands	124	Josie Carroll	3/1