Norseman Racing Stables’ Maritimer blew past his rivals in early stretch to take Sunday’s $250,800 Coronation Futurity at Woodbine.
The Sid Attard trainee rallied from mid-pack after opening splits of :24.38 and :49.25 in the 108th edition of the race to prevail by 2 ¼ lengths over Menlo Castle. Hampstead Heath was third.
The son of Stormy Atlantic, ridden to victory by leading jockey Luis Contreras, covered the 1 1/8-mile distance in a sharp 1:50.91.
Maritimer entered the Coronation Futurity off a fourth-place finish in the Grade 3 Summer Stakes, contested over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course, on September 17. On August 26, in another one-mile grass race, he was second, as the mutuel favourite, to Hard Not to Like, who finished fifth in the recent Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, at Churchill Downs.
On Sunday, Maritimer didn’t have to settle for second.
“I said, ‘Luis, ride him with lots of patience and don’t move too soon,’” said Attard, of his pre-race instructions. “With this horse, if you try to take the lead early, he’ll start loafing. This horse is just starting to learn how to run.”
Owner Howard Walton is thinking big after today’s solid performance.
“This, hopefully, is our Queen’s Plate horse,” he offered.
Maritimer, who now has two wins and two seconds from five starts, won his career bow on July 10, taking a six-furlong Polytrack race at Woodbine by a head.
Sent off as the slight favourite, Maritimer paid $8.50, $4.40 and $3.20, combining with Menlo Castle ($5, $3.60) for a $28.20 exactor.
Hampstead Heath ($4) completed a $148 triactor. A $1 superfecta returned $320.60.
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