It’s Coronation Futurity and Princess Elizabeth weekend, the most prestigious races for Canadian-bred two-year-olds, both to run at Woodbine on Saturday, Nov. 25.
The Coronation Futurity, worth a fast $250,000, was inaugurated in 1902 and this weekend’s 120th running is once again a 1 1/8 mile test on Tapeta (it was not run on a couple of occasions) and once again we all wonder, could this be the year the winner goes on to win the King’s Plate?
It’s been noted many times but the last Coronation winner to come back the next year and win the Plate was Norcliffe in 1975-1976.
But this year Velocitor, the 2022 winner, did pretty well to grab fourth in the Plate Trial, fourth in the Plate before going on to win the Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie.
Some horsepeople and fans think that the testing distance of the Coronation might be too much for a young horse and perhaps that is why so many winners of the race have a hard time matching or bettering their form as a three-year-old. Indeed, very few recent winners of the Coronation have gone on to continue being stakes stars.
In the 1970s and ’80s there were plenty of top-class horses winning the Coronation and coming back the next year to do well. Those include L’Enjoleur, Norcliffe, Giboulee, Overskate, Sunny’s Halo, Grey Classic, Bold Executive and Regal Classic.
The Princess Elizabeth is not as old a race, having been inaugurated in 1946 as a 6 furlong race. It became a 1 1/16 mile race in 1961. It also offers a $250,000 purse. A host of fillies who have won this race have gone on to win the Woodbine Oaks as well as become successful broodmares.
Here is a look at this year’s Coronation Futurity (race 8 Saturday) and Princess Elizabeth (Race 9):
Coronation Futurity
Ten are entered including three maidens and the supplemented PIPER’S FACTOR, who will be one of the betting choices along with American-owned NAPTOWN, who won his maiden on Oct. 29 by 5 1/2 lengths at 7 furlongs. Naptown, trained by Graham Motion for Madaket Stables and Robert LaPenta, was a $120,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase last fall and he was bred by 552727 Ontario Ltd. The son of Munnings – Gold Medalist by Medaglia D’Oro is a full brother to winner Take a Chance, a speedy sprinter-type.
Piper’s Factor won his maiden second time out when moving from a 6 furlong race to a 1 1/16 mile event and he earned a hefty 82 Beyer Speed Figure that day. He came back on Nov. 4 to be second by a length in the Grade 3 Grey Stakes to Two Ghosts. Kazushi Kimura rides for owner/breeder Chiefswood Stable and trainer Katerina Vassilieva.
One of two stakes winners in the field is NO MORE OPTIONS, who won the 6 furlong Frost King Stakes for Mary and Jesse Self and trainer Zeljko Krcmar. Kimura has been riding this gelding by Frac Daddy but Orlando Mojica comes in from Indianapolis via Churchill Downs to ride. No More Options is certainly bred for long distances and he won his maiden going 1 mile on turf as his second dam, Gold Strike, produced 2022 Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike.
There are two youngsters in the field for owner and breeder Ivan Dalos by his sire Amis Gizmo. HATMAKER GIZMO won his maiden at 1 mile and 70 yards with Sahin Civaci riding and ZIPPY GIZMO, winner of the Bull Page Stakes on turf, exits a sixth-place finish in the Cup and Saucer Stakes. Speedster BABBO is a two-time winner, already having won a 7 furlong allowance race on Nov. 4 for Tucci Stables.
Trainer Barbara Minshall, who sent out Two Ghosts to win the Grey Stakes, has PONTIAC in the field for Hoolie Racing Stable, who bred the son of Exaggerator in Ontario. The late-running fellow is also owned by Big Chief Racing.
Three maidens are KING ROSSO, who adds Lasix and blinkers and Patrick Husbands, THOR’S CAUSE, by Brody’s Cause, and Stronach Stables’ VITALITY, a son of Street Boss.
Princess Elizabeth Stakes
Nine fillies will run for the big money and South Ocean Stakes winner OLIVIA ROSE (88 Beyer Figure), owned and bred by Gabe Grossberg, will be well bet. A two-time winner in sprints and a front-running type, Olivia Rose (Silent Name (Jpn)) has post 6 with Kazushi Kimura riding for trainer Mark Casse.
Stakes winner HURRICANE CLAIR was second to Olivia Rose in the South Ocean for David Rowbotham and partners, trainer Martin Drexler and FOURFIFTYFOUR, by Perfect Timber, was a closing third.
Catch a Glimpse Stakes winner AIROSA is one of three in the field for trainer Kevin Attard. The filly adds blinkers and she tried the Grade 1 Summer Stakes against boys last time but finished eighth (without Lasix). Attard also sends out WAR PAINTER, winner of the Victorian Queen Stakes and fifth to the boys in the Cup and Saucer, and maiden INUDATION, who was a close second in a 1 1/16 mile maiden race on Nov. 4.
Smart maiden winner SOUNDS PRACTICAL (Practical Joke), turf maiden winner MORE MUNNY HUNNY and turf winner BRAVO KATE are also in the competitive field.
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