Photo by: Benoit

Trainer Julio Canani Jockey David Flores Owner Fanticola & Scardino Breeder Chantilly Bloodstock Agency (GB) Recent Race History Date Race Finish 06.04 Honeymoon Handicap (GII) 1st 05.10 Allowance @ Hollywood Park 1st

Starter Analysis

The front-running Attima was made the 2-1 morning line favorite off her win last month in the Honeymoon Breeders' Cup (GII) over the local lawn. In the Honeymoon, she set some moderate fractions and then had plenty left to kick home the last furlong impressively in under 12 seconds. Stretches out to a distance that she's never run before, but trainer Julio Canani is a master at handling just such a task. Her French races last year were not terribly impressive, but it could be that she either likes the American style of racing or has just gotten better as she's matured. Whatever the reason, it's hard to knock her races here, when she beat Foxysox, Proxenia and Galileo's Star, all fillies she'll face in the Oaks. The most interesting thing about her is the rider switch. Victor Espinoza, who's ridden her in both victories, decided to ride the Japanese fillies in both the CashCall and Oaks. Not sure about the circumstances, but it could be that he had to ride both or neither. End result is now David Flores, one of the best on the circuit with early speed horses such as Attima, picks up the mount. She rates a long look and should be included in all your exotics, but would prefer to see her around 7-2 or so before diving in for a big win bet.

Pedigree Analysis :: Bay filly, 3; by Zafonic - Guarded (GB) (Eagle Eyed)

Attima is by Zafonic, the champion 2-year-old in Europe & England and at age three was Horse of the Year in Europe. Overall, he won five of seven starts, all at seven furlongs or under. Zafonic retired to stud in 1994, and made an immediate impact, named the top freshman sire of 1997. He has sired over 300 winners from better than 650 starters from 6 crops of racing age. He had 26 stakes winners and 15 graded stakes winners, topped by his son, the Darley stallion Xaar, and including 2003 winners Zafeen (FR), winner of the St. James's Palace Stakes, Ascot, (GI), Zee Zee Top, winner of the Prix de l'Opera, Longchamp, (GI), and Trade Fair, winner of the Betfair Criterion Stakes, Newmarket, (GIII). He began shuttling to Australia in 2003 to serve southern hemisphere stud duty, but was fatally injured after covering just four mares. Attima is the only foal from her dam Guarded (GB), a daughter of Eagle Eyed, himself a full brother to leading stallion Danehill. Guarded won her only start. She comes from a nice mare Atropa, a producer of two grass stakes winners in France. Attima has a female family loaded with top-class distance turf influences His Majesty, Vaguely Noble and Mill Reef, the latter two both winners of the Prix l'Arc de Triomphe (GI), in her first four generations.