Babbo wires Coronation Futurity; Inudation triumphs in Princess Elizabeth

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Owner Lou Tucci overruled trainer Sid Attard regarding where to run Babbo, and the bold move paid off when the son of Kantharos wired the field in Saturday’s $251,000 Coronation Futurity at Woodbine.

Babbo ($12.20) went straight to the front under Eswan Flores and set honest fractions in the nine-furlong event for Canadian-bred 2-year-olds, with favored Piper’s Thunder in close proximity.

Piper’s Thunder took dead aim at Babbo in the stretch, but Babbo never wavered and went on to score by 2 1/2 lengths, in a time of 1:52.06.

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No More Options finished third and was followed by Naptown, Zippy Gizmo, King Rosso, Vitality, Hatmaker Gizmo, Pontiac and Thor’s Cause.

Flores said he was concerned about Babbo’s aggressive style after the colt had won his two previous starts sprinting in front-running style, including a seven-furlong allowance.

“He has shown a lot of speed in the past,” Flores said. “I didn’t want to go too quick, but he was able to relax and was very professional throughout the whole race.”

Tucci said he was keen on running in the Coronation rather than next Saturday’s six-furlong Clarendon Stakes because Babbo is reminiscent of his speedy Queen’s Plate victor Midnight Aria.

“The way he ran the seven-eighths, he won it easy,” Tucci recalled. “He reminded me of Midnight Aria. He didn’t give it up, so we had to try.”

Babbo, a $95,000 yearling purchase, banked $150,000 in his stakes debut.

*** “Longshot Leo” Salles guided 12-1 outsider Inudation to her first victory in Saturday's $250,500 Princess Elizabeth Stakes for Canadian-bred 2-year-old fillies.

Sounds Practical was pressed by favored Olivia Rose through quick splits before War Painter mounted an eye-catching wide rally to assume command in the stretch.

Inudation closed inside and prevailed by a head over her Kevin Attard-trained stablemate, War Painter, in a time of 1:45.33 for the 1 1/16 miles. More Money Hunny, at 44-1, was along for third after missing the break in the nine-horse contest.

“Everything worked out good,” Salles said. “It was all my intentions to save the ground. The first turn, I had a good trip. I could save a lot of ground and gain positions as well. On the back straight, I followed a guy who I thought had a good chance. On the turn, I thought (War Painter) made (her) move a little early.”

Inudation ($26.60) earned $150,000 for owners Al and Bill Ulwelling, who bought the daughter of Collected for $67,000 at the same Fasig-Tipton October yearling sale from which Babbo was purchased.

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