Up-and-comer A Bit O'Gold could be an ideal hunch bet in Saturday's $250,000 Coronation Futurity Stakes for 2-year-old Canadian breds at Woodbine.The Catharine Day Phillips trainee, who comes into the 1 1/8-mile main track test with an unblemished record after two career starts, could make it two consecutive years that a 'Gold' horse has taken top honors in, arguably, the country's most important 2-year-old event.In 2002, Arco's Gold and Mobil hooked up in a spirited duel and dead-heated for first, but the latter was disqualified in perhaps the race of the year at the Toronto oval.A Bit O'Gold, who won his career bow on Sept. 28 at odds of 7-1, drew post one for the Coronation Futurity, but as he showed in his most recent victory, riding the rail is hardly an issue for the son of Gold Fever."He'd been training very well and so it wasn't a complete surprise," said Day Phillips, of the one-length score. "I think the professionalism he showed from his very first race was impressive from our point of view."The chestnut will be facing a longer distance of ground in the added-money event. He'll also be facing in Langburg a rival he bested two weeks ago at Woodbine."This week, he's (A Bit O'Gold) trained very well, something he's also done on an off-track, too," said Day Phillips, who has 12 wins and $789,385 in purse earnings on the campaign. "He's proven that he can win going two turns on the dirt, so we decided to take a shot."Although the Ontario-bred will be going farther than ever before and competing in his first stakes action, Day Phillips is hoping her young gelding will be up for the challenge.
The 10-horse field features three-time winner Twisted Wit and Frost King Stakes champion Copper Trail.Saturday's live card of racing also features the $175,000-added Maple Leaf Stakes (Can-II). $250,000 Coronation Futurity, 2-year-old Canadian breds, 1 1/8 mile
PP / Horse / Trainer / Jockey / Morning Line Odds
1 / A Bit O'Gold / Catherine Day Phillips / Jono Jones / 5-2
2 / His Smoothness / James Day / Robert Landry / 12-1
3 / Langburg / Roger Attfield / Jim McAleney / 4-1
4 / Third Sacker / Roger Attfield / Todd Kabel / 8-1
5 / Moonlight Duel / Mark Frostad / Slade Callaghan / 12-1
6 / Copper Trail / James Day / Francine Villeneuve / 9-2
7 / Kent Ridge / Mark Casse / Patrick Husbands / 12-1
8 / Sid Dithers / James Smith / Jim McKnight / 30-1
9 / Spiritualist / Abraham Katryan / Emile Ramsammy / 15-1
10 / Twisted Wit / Robert Tiller / David Clark / 6-1