Crystal Cliffs Tops Field of Eight in Canadian Stakes

French-bred turf specialist Crystal Cliffs  will try for a second consecutive victory over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course when she takes on seven fillies and mares in the CA$200,000 Canadian Stakes Presented by the Japan Racing Association (G2T), part of an outstanding Queen's Plate undercard, Aug. 20 at Woodbine.

The Graham Motion trainee's last outing was the July 2 Nassau Stakes (G2T) when she crossed the line in a dead heat with Lady Speightspeare  in her first outing over the Woodbine turf.

"We love coming up to run at Woodbine, and it's a treat getting to have a runner on that turf course," Motion said. "Last time out she got a great ride from Rafael Hernandez and handled it really well."

The Nassau was at one mile, and the Canadian will go at 1 1/8 miles, with Hernandez again getting the mount.

"I don't think the extra distance will hurt her," Motion said. "The fact it's just one turn makes it similar, but it's going to be a tough race against some good company."

Crystal Cliffs has been stellar through three starts in her 5-year-old campaign, with two wins and a runner-up in three starts, pushing her career record to 4-3-2 in nine career starts for owners Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, and Wonder Stables

Two runners from the July 24 Dance Smartly Stakes are returning for the Canadian, the runner-up Fev Rover  and third place-finisher and 2021 Canadian champion 3-year-old filly Munnyfor Ro .

Other contenders include graded stakes-placed Flirting Bridge , who was second in the Dr. James Penny Memorial Stakes (G3T) last time out, and Argentinian-bred Bellagamba , a multiple grade 1 winner in her native country, entering off a win in the Big Dreyfus Stakes at Laurel Park July 16.

Keyflower , Barkin , and Angelou  complete the field.

Mark Casse Duo Headlines King Edward Stakes

Also on Sunday's card is the $200,000 King Edward Stakes (G2T), a one mile contest for 3-year-old's and up.

Entrants include Mark Casse stablemates Filo Di Arianna and March to the Arch , who were one-two finishers respectively in the July 23 Connaught Cup Stakes (G2T) around the Toronto oval.

Roger Attfield trainee Shirl's Speight  will also contest the King Edward. The 5-year-old son of Speightstown   placed fifth last out in the Connaught Cup and previously placed in the Salvator Mile Stakes (G3) on the dirt. This past spring he notched the biggest win of his career thus far when capturing the Maker's Mark Mile (G1T) at Keeneland by a nose over Masen .

Completing the field is Brandon Greer trainee Town Cruise , Chiefswood Stables Limited's Weyburn , and Kevin Attard trainees Haddassah and Harlan's Estate.

Entries: Canadian S. Presented by the Japan Racing Association (G2T)

Woodbine, Sunday, August 21, 2022, Race 9

• Grade IIT
• About 1 1/8m
• Turf
• $200,000
• 3 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
• 4:58 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Munnyfor Ro (ON)	Justin Stein	121	Kevin Attard	8/1
2	2Fev Rover (IRE)	Patrick Husbands	121	Mark E. Casse	5/2
3	3Crystal Cliffs (FR)	Rafael Manuel Hernandez	124	H. Graham Motion	2/1
4	4Angelou (KY)	Luis Contreras	121	Kevin Attard	12/1
5	5Barkin (NY)	Declan Carroll	121	Catherine Day Phillips	20/1
6	6Flirting Bridge (IRE)	Flavien Prat	121	Brendan P. Walsh	4/1
7	7Keyflower (FR)	Kazushi Kimura	121	Mark E. Casse	10/1
8	8Bellagamba (ARG)	Vincent Cheminaud	122	Ignacio Correas, IV	6/1