THREE CHEERS FOR MUSKETIER
Runner-up when a 27-1 chance in last year=s GII Fifth
Third Elkhorn S. at bucolic Keeneland Race Course,
Musketier (Ger) (Acatenango {Ger}) sat a midpack trip
beneath John Velazquez, came out and around rivals in
upper stretch and pulled clear for a 1 3/4-length victory.
The win gave trainer Roger Attfield a sweep of the
turf marathon events to close the meeting annually in
Lexington. Subesquently ninth over an insufficient nine
panels in Pimlico=s GII Dixie S. May 16, he stretched
back out to 12 panels to annex the GIII Singspiel S. at
his Woodbine base June 21. Employing pacesetting
tactics in the GI Man O=War S. at Belmont July 11, he
held dourly for second behind Gio Ponti (Tale of the
Cat), but faltered to ninth after attending a brisk pace in
the GI Sword Dancer Invitational S. at Saratoga
Aug. 15. He made just one additional appearance in
2009, a last-of-six effort in the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic
Invitational S. Oct. 3. A touch slow into stride,
Musketier was guided over to the inside to save some
ground from centerfield as Timeless Fashion (Sky Classic)
tried to slow things down up front. He advanced
into sixth position on the turn and responded when
asked to win handily. Brass Hat (Prized) rallied from the
tail of the field to gain the place, while longshot Blushing
Bear (Rahy) was a good third. Expansion (Maria=s
Mon) was perhaps the unluckiest participant in yesterday=
s event, as he was blocked for a run at a crucial
stage and ran on late into fourth. Chart p4
Friday, Keeneland
FIFTH THIRD ELKHORN S.-GII, $200,000, KEE, 4-23,
4yo/up, 1 1/2mT, 2:31 1/5, fm.
1–MUSKETIER (GER), 118, h, 8, by Acatenango (Ger)
1st Dam: Myth and Reality (GB), by Linamix (Fr)
2nd Dam: Melite, by Caro (Ire)
3rd Dam: Maestra (Fr), by Luthier (Fr)
O-Johanna Louise Glen-Teven; B-Gestut Gorlsdorf
(GER); T-Roger L Attfield; J-John R Velazquez;
$120,000. Lifetime Record: MGSP-Fr, GISP-US,
34-7-5-3, $626,368. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for
