Aheadbyacentury outruns Kitten's Boy in Coronation Futurity

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Aheadbyacentury looked the part in the paddock prior to Sunday’s $225,000 Coronation Futurity at Woodbine, and then proceeded to win the nine-furlong test for Canadian-bred 2-year-olds as a 6-1 overlay.

Aheadbyacentury ($14.40) took up the chase on the outside in fourth down the backstretch, with the favored Kitten’s Boy to his inside, as Wedgewood was pressed through a moderate pace by Cooler Mike.

Aheadbyacentury made a wide bid in the stretch, and then outran Kitten’s Boy in the final furlong to prevail by two lengths, in a final time of 1:51.02 over the wet Tapeta surface.

Neepawa came from fifth to nose out Kitten’s Boy for second. Cooler Mike, Flight Deck, Wedgewood, Crumlin Night, and Bobby’s Escape completed the order of finish.

Rafael Hernandez rode Aheadbyacentury for the partnership of trainer John Ross and Jack of Hearts Racing.

“He gave me everything in the stretch,” Hernandez said. “The favorite got his room to go through along the rail. It looks like my horse is the best one.”

Ross, who won the 2002 Coronation with Arco’s Gold, has next year’s Queen’s Plate on his radar for the son of Midnight Lute, who sired 2013 Plate winner Midnight Aria.

“(Hernandez) did a fantastic job,” Ross said. “He was a little bit sharp, but he got him to relax into a beautiful stride. He put him into the garden spot. I was really happy with the way the horse finished up. It looks like he’ll run longer, too. We’ve always dreamed of having a 2-year-old finish up the year like this. We’re going to put him away for the year and send him to Florida.”