'We Knew He Was Going To Run A Good Race': Velocitor Digs In To Pull 21-1 Coronation Futurity Upset

Naptown and jockey Rafael Hernandez winning Race 5 on October 29, 2023, at Woodbine (Michael Burns Photo) Chris Lomon, Woodbine Communications / @WoodbineComms TORONTO, Ont. - Naptown, a 2-year-old son of Munnings-Gold Medalist, takes on nine in the $250000 Coronation Futurity, part of a Saturday Woodbine card that also features the $250000…

Tunechi and jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson winning Race 6 on July 23, 2023, at Woodbine (Michael Burns Photo) Chris Lomon, Woodbine Communications / @WoodbineComms TORONTO, Ont. - Ten hopefuls, including Barb Minshall trainees Tunechi and Two Ghosts, will go postward in the $150000 Grey Stakes (G3), part of a Saturday Woodbine card that also features the…

Fourteen 3-year-olds, including King's Plate winner Paramount Prince and runner-up Elysian Field, Kaukokaipuu, who contested the Plate and Prince of Wales Stakes, and three Kevin Attard trainees, are slated to go postward in Sunday's $400000 Breeders' Stakes, the third jewel in the OLG Canadian Triple Crown, at Woodbine. The final event of the…

Velocitor upset favorite Stanley House and King's Plate winner Paramount Prince to win the Prince of Wales, the second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, at Fort Erie on Tuesday. With Justin Stein riding on a sloppy and sealed track, Paramount Prince led most of the way in the 1 3/16-mile race, with Velocitor keeping pace in third and then second…

While hopes for a Triple Crown winner were dashed Tuesday (Sept. 12), there was still a lot to celebrate at the Fort Erie Race Track. Kicking up mud and slop after a rain-soaked afternoon, Velocitor and jockey Justin Stein won the second leg of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown. It was Stein's second Prince of Wales title win in a row. "Déjà vu," said…

FORT ERIE, Ont. - Three weeks ago, Velocitor was totally dismissed at 71-1 in the King's Plate. He outran those odds that day and on Tuesday, he outran the field. The son of Mor Spirit was a more modest 7-1 in winning the Prince of Wales Stakes on Tuesday at Fort Erie Racetrack, giving jockey Justin Stein his second consecutive win in the race. He…

Dream Jareem breaks his maiden under Slade Jones Oct. 16, 2022, at Woodbine (Michael Burns) By Chris Lomon - Woodbine Communications / @WoodbineComms TORONTO- Kevin Attard trainees Dream Jereem and Love to Shop chase top prize in the $125000 Toronto Cup Presented by Crown Royal, Sunday at Woodbine. Dream Jereem, a son of Austern (AUS)-Lexi Tap, and…

On paper, it appeared that Paramount Prince (Society's Chairman) had many things going for him heading into the 164th King's Plate at Woodbine. Trained by Mark Casse, who is one of only a handful of individuals who has been honored by both the U.S. and Canadian Hall of Fames, the chestnut was benefitting from the services of another Canadian…

Kevin Attard has been a prominent figure in Canada's biggest race for a few years now. But now that he has finally tasted success, he is gunning for more. The veteran trainer sent Moira to a dominant victory one year ago and, on Sunday, approximately 20 minutes before the King's Plate, he'll be the busiest guy at Woodbine as he sends four - perhaps…

For a race about to add the 164th winner to its honor roll, there's a lot about Sunday's King's Plate that feels like a fresh start. First off, the name. Since its inaugural running in 1860 when Queen Victoria made her first donation of 50 guineas to the race, the Plate has corresponded with the head of the British monarchy. It operated as the…

Stanley House prevails in an allowance optional claimer June 18 at Woodbine (Michael Burns) By Chris Lomon - Woodbine Communications TORONTO- The $150000 Plate Trial Stakes, a key prep on the road to this year's King's Plate (August 20), has drawn 12 hopefuls, including Stanley House and Simcoe, Sunday at Woodbine. The 1 1/8-mile Plate Trial, for…

The $150000 Plate Trial Stakes Sunday at Woodbine is the final prep race at the Toronto track for the 164 edition of the King's Plate, the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown to be held Aug. 20. Twelve 3-year-old Canadian-bred Thoroughbreds are entered in the Plate Trial, which is held at 1 1/8 miles on Woodbine's synthetic Tapeta track. The…

Last Call ahead of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (Courtney Snow/Past The Wire) By Chris Lomon - Woodbine Communications TORONTO- Trainer Kevin Attard sends out Grade 1 winner Last Call in Saturday's $100000 Ruling Angel Stakes Presented by Ketel One, at Woodbine. Set for seven furlongs on the Toronto oval Tapeta, the Ruling Angel, for…

Novo Sol wins a handicap at Gulfstream Park July 16 (Coglianese) By Chris Lomon - Woodbine Communications TORONTO- The Grade 3 $150000 Valedictory Stakes, set for 1 ½ miles on the Tapeta this Sunday at Woodbine, has attracted 12 starters, including Novo Sol (BRZ). The marathon test, for 3-year-olds and up, will mark the 19th career start for the…

Hal and jockey Justin Stein winning the Display Stakes on November 5, 2022, at Woodbine (Michael Burns Photo) Chris Lomon, Woodbine Communications TORONTO, Ont.- Hal, a son of Accelerate-Purely a Dream, goes for his third win in as many starts in the Grade 3 $150000 Grey Stakes, part of a Saturday Woodbine card that also features the Grade 3…

Hal, a son of Accelerate -Purely a Dream, goes for his third win in as many starts in the Grade 3, $150000 Grey Stakes, part of a Saturday Woodbine card that also features the Grade 3, $150000 Mazarine Stakes. Trained by Darwin Banach, Hal arrives at the 1 1/16-mile Tapeta race for 2-year-olds off a strong debut on Oct. 2, and an equally impressive…

Twin City, trained and co-owned by Stuart Simon, will take aim at top prize in the $250000 Coronation Futurity, Sunday at Woodbine. The 1 1/8-mile Tapeta event for Canadian-foaled 2-year-olds is a significant race on the road to the 164th running of the Queen's Plate, the first jewel of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. The…

TORONTO, Ont. - Philip My Dear came from out of the clouds to land in the winner's circle in Sunday's running of the $251600 Cup & Saucer Stakes at Woodbine. Contested over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course, the 1 1/16-mile feature showcasing Canadian-bred two-year-olds drew 12 hopefuls (Mo Tourist was scratched), including 9-5 choice Philip My Dear, who…

Following a third-place finish at the Grade 1 level last time out, Philip My Dear came from out of the clouds to land in the winner's circle in Sunday's running of the $251600 Cup and Saucer Stakes at Woodbine. Contested over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course, the 1 1/16-mile feature showcasing Canadian-bred 2-year-olds drew 12 hopefuls (Mo Tourist was…

Fresh off a maiden-breaking score, Awesome Bourbon, a bay son of Not Bourbon-Sea The Awesome (IRE), goes after his first stakes win in Saturday's $100000 Bull Page at Woodbine. An'about' seven-furlong E.P. Taylor Turf test for Ontario-sired 2-year-olds, the Bull Page will see six starters vie for top prize on a card that also includes the running…

TORONTO, October 28, 2021 - The Grade 3 $150000 Ontario Derby, for three-year-olds, and the $125000 Ontario Damsel, for three-year-old fillies, co-headline Sunday's 10-race card at Woodbine. Riptide Rock, a son of Point of Entry, heads into the 1 1/8-mile main track Ontario Derby off a runner-up effort to British Royalty (who'll also run) in the…

TORONTO, October 27, 2021 - Fourteen hopefuls, including Dan Vella's charge The Minkster, are set to square-off in the $250000 Coronation Futurity, which headlines a trio of stakes on Saturday at Woodbine. The 1 1/8-mile Tapeta event for Canadian-foaled two-year-olds is a significant race on the road to the 163 running of the Queen's Plate, the…

One week after the United States' best 3-year-olds were on display at Churchill Downs, Canadian sophomores take center stage for the $1 million Queen's Plate. Woodbine on Saturday will host the 161st running of the Queen's Plate, North America's oldest continually run race. Fourteen Canadian-bred 3-year-olds will go postward at 5:41 p.m. EDT for a…

TORONTO, June 10, 2020 - A pair of key prep races on the road to the Queen's Plate, the $100000 Woodstock and the $100000 Star Shoot, kick off the Woodbine Thoroughbred stakes season this Saturday. The 122nd edition of the Woodstock, for three-year-olds, and the companion Star Shoot, for three-year-old fillies, share the spotlight on the second…