Grey Stakes (Can-III) winner Ami's Holiday will attempt to keep his record unblemished in the $250,000 Coronation Futurity Nov. 17 at Woodbine, a race likely to decide the division title for Canadian-bred 2-year-olds.
The son of Harlan's Holiday, trained by Josie Carroll, will face six opponents led by Cup and Saucer Stakes winner Matador, who will attempt to transfer his form from turf to Polytrack for trainer Mark Casse. The Coronation Futurity, contested at 1 1/8 miles, is race 8 on the Sunday program with a scheduled post time of 4:26 p.m. EST.
Ami's Holiday came from off the pace with a powerful surge to nail down the 1 1/16-mile Grey Oct. 6 by half a length as the 3-2 favorite in a field of four. The victory, his first around two turns, improved his record to two-for-two including a 3 1/4-length win over maidens going six furlongs a month earlier.
The bay colt is a fourth generation homebred for owner Ivan Dalos, who bred him in Ontario in the name of his Tall Oaks Farm. Ami's Holiday is out of the Victory Gallop mare Victorious Ami. He will be ridden once again by Luis Contreras, who also rode Matador in his three prior starts, and they will break from the far outside post.
John Oxley's Matador was a game winner of the Cup and Saucer Stakes for Casse on yielding turf at Woodbine Oct. 20.
The son of Malibu Moon registered his first victory, all in stakes company, when he fought the filly Cool Faith the entire length of the Woodbine grass stretch for a nose victory in the 1 1/16-mile Cup and Saucer.
Matador made his career debut on Polytrack, finishing fourth in the six-furlong Vandal Stakes Aug. 11. He finished behind Coronation rivals Heart to Heart, the runner-up, and Man o' Bear, who was third that day. The bay colt was subsequently third behind My Conquestadory in Woodbine's one-mile Summer Stakes (Can-IIIT) on grass Sept. 14.
Bred in Ontario by Windhaven Farms out of the Elusive Quality mare I'm Breathtaking, Matador was purchased by Casse, as agent, for $150,000 from the Eaton Sales consignment at the 2012 Keeneland September yearling sale. Patrick Husbands takes the mount from post 3.
Oxley and Casse have also entered the maiden Majestic Sunset, who will race uncoupled with his stablemate. The Artie Schiller colt was fourth in the Cup and Saucer, his third start, and will add blinkers this time. Eurico Rosa Da Silva has the call on Majestic Sunset from the rail.
Heart to Heart has had two starts for trainer Mike Stidham since missing by a nose to Go Greeley in the Vandal. Terry Hamilton's son of English Channel was a well-beaten fourth in the Simcoe Stakes Aug. 28, then ran third in his initial try on grass in a second-level allowance event Oct. 6 at Keeneland.
Asserting Bear made a big late run in the Cup and Saucer to get third in the Cup and Saucer, three-quarters of a length behind Matador. Bear Stables' son of Bear's Kid, trained by Read Baker, will be making his Polytrack debut after four starts on grass that included a maiden win Aug. 24.
The same connections have Man o' Bear, who was fifth in the Cup and Saucer following a 2 1/4-length maiden-breaking victory as the 3-2 favorite on Polytrack a month earlier.
Maiden Wild Cal completes the field.
$250,000 Coronation Futurity (Race 8, 4:26 p.m.), Canadian-Bred 2-Year-Olds, 1 1/8 Miles (All Weather)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Trainer
1. Majestic Sunset (ON), E R Da Silva, M E Casse
2. Man o' Bear (ON), E Wilson, R Baker
3. Matador (ON), P Husbands, M E Casse
4. Heart to Heart (ON), J M Campbell, M Stidham
5. Asserting Bear (ON), J McAleney, R Baker
6. Wild Cal (ON), G Boulanger, T Attard
7. Ami's Holiday (ON), L Contreras, J Carroll
All assigned 122 pounds.
Blinkers On: Majestic Sunset
Ami's Holiday won the 2013 Grey Stakes.
Michael Burns