Bear Tough Guy grabs Grey by a neck

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The imposing Bear Tough Guy probably punched his ticket to next month's Breeders' Cup Juvenile with a victory in the 99th running of the at Woodbine on Sunday.

Bear Tough Guy raced in fourth on the outside until the far turn, while longshot Ring My Surprise set slow fractions in the 1 1/16-mile route. Bear Tough Guy loomed into contention on the far turn, and then held off a game Korvette Kid in the final furlong to prevail by a neck, in a time of 1:45.34.

Mobthewarrior finished another half-length back in third, and favored Ghost Fleet was a nonthreatening fourth in the seven-horse field.

Eurico Rosa Da Silva rode Bear Tough Guy for trainer Reade Baker, who said the huge colt is probably headed for the Breeders' Cup.

Said Da Silva: "On the far turn, I thought he was going to win much easier than he did. This is his second race, and he's only going to get better. He's a very nice horse."

Bear Tough Guy, unbeaten in two starts for Bear Stable, banked $150,000 in his first Polytrack excursion.