Woodbine Wrap: Walton Street Posts Highest Turf Beyer in N.A.

WALTON STREET (GB)‘s crushing win in the Grade 1 Pattison Canadian International on Sept. 18 at Woodbine earned the 7-year-old gelding a 110 Beyer Speed Figure according to Daily Racing Form, the highest of any grass horse in North American in 2021.

Godolphin’s son of Cape Cross (Ire) – Brom Felinity (Aus), by Encosta de Lago strolled to a 5 3/4 length win in the 1 1/2 mile International under Frankie Dettori, his seventh career win in 19 races, stopping the clock in 2:29 over a turf course listed as ‘good’ that was likely closer to yielding.

Walton Street is just one of two foals produced from the mare Brom Felinity, who was placed once in 11 races. Brom Felinity is a full sister to Australian Group 1 winner Delago Brom.

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The super third-place effort by locally trained PRIMO TOUCH in the International should be mentioned. Owned by Kirk Sutherland of Alberta and trained by Harold Ladouceur, Primo Touch was swinging back eight days after a front-running score in a 1 1/8 mile turf race and under Daisuke Fukumoto, led for a long time in the International. He paired up his top Beyer Figure earned from the previous win, a 95.

A son of Midas Touch (GB) – Mary’s Derby Rose, by Sightseeing, Primo Touch was originally a $2,000 yearling purchase in 2016 at Keeneland September.

He was acquired by Sutherland in the spring of 2019. The gelding had won three straight stakes races in 2017 and 2018 including the Turf Paradise Derby.

For Sutherland, Primo Touch won a couple of optional races at Century Mile and Turf Paradise before moving to Ontario in October 2020. He raced for a $40,000 claiming price in his Woodbine debut and was second by a neck. This year the 6-year-old has improved steadily for Ladouceur.

TOWN CRUISE put up a 104 Beyer Figure for his Woodbine Mile win, his best career rating and putting him up close on the list of top Beyer Figures for grass horses in North American this year. The Ontario-sired and bred gelding also put his name on the early list for Horse of the Year consideration in Canada.

Some other big winners on the Woodbine weekend during the Turf Festival included MUSICAL RIDE, owned by Rob Cudney and trained by Elizabeth Elder. This Data Link filly bred in Kentucky by Cudney won a grass allowance race at 76-to-1. The filly earned an 85 Beyer Figure in her last-to-first run in the seven furlong race, stopping the teletimer in 1:22.86. That race featured a $62,000 Superfecta payoff for 20 cents.

On Sunday, the highest Beyer Figure record was the 94 of WHITE FLAG, who won a turf allowance/optional for Robert Evans and trainer Roger Attfield. This classy 7-year-old had not raced in a year and was making his first start for Attfield. The horse had a nice trip under Emma-Jayne Wilson and won the 6 1/2 furlong race in 1:15.03. A two-time stakes winner by War Front, White Flag was previously trained by Christophe Clement.

*At Fort Erie on Monday, Sept. 20, Fortunato Galati’s ACT OF BOB set a track record for 5 1/2 furlongs on the dirt of 1:03.21, winning an allowance/optional claiming race.

This 4-year-old gelding has had a new lease on life since he moved to Fort Erie and began racing on traditional dirt. He is 4 for 4 on the dirt at Fort Erie and was claimed on Tuesday from Galati and trainer Michael Cohe by Bruno Schickedanz. Act of Bob is by Souper Speedy from Featherwing by Rockport Harbor and he was bred by Northern Dawn Stables.

Ontario Stakes Winners Sept. 14 – 19 – Beyer Figure

WALTON STREET (GB) – 110

TOWN CRUISE – 104

LA DRAGONTEA – 91

HADDASSAH – 84

WILD BEAUTY -89

ALBAHR – 81

DERRYNANE – Woodbine Cares Stakes 81

DIAMOND CITY – Ontario Racing Stakes- 70

WHERE’S NEAL – Bull Page – 59

SWINGING MANDY – Victorian Queen 59