Biamonte holds strong pair in Bull Page

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Ralph Biamonte should be front and center in Monday’s $125,000 Bull Page Stakes at Woodbine, when he runs Altius and Citius in the six-furlong sprint for Ontario-sired 2-year-olds.

Altius and Citius are both sons of leading Canadian freshman sire Old Forester, and they were both bred by Biamonte.

The speedy Altius was second in his five-furlong debut in June. He graduated over 5 1/2 furlongs, with the addition Lasix in another Ontario-sired maiden dash July 25.

Altius struck again in a six-furlong allowance Sept. 16, scoring by three-quarters of a length in 1:10.97, a time that earned him a 61 Beyer Speed Figure.

Biamonte said he thought highly of Altius before the gelding debuted.

“He always showed that he looked like he was going to be a good horse,” Biamonte recalled. “I think he’ll like the grass. He’s got the stride for grass.”

Citius rallied inside from near the back of a 12-horse field to finish a close second in his only start going five furlongs, after which he galloped out strongly.

“He broke good and was up there, but then he fell right back to where he only had one horse beaten,” Biamonte said. “Then he came flying at the end and was part of a five-horse photo for second.”

Biamonte said Citius should be well-suited to the conditions of the Bull Page.

“I think he’ll like the distance,” Biamonte said. “He trains good. He’s a nice horse. He might be as good as Altius.”

Trainer Reade Baker entered Quintana and Bear’s Peak in the Bull Page.

Quintana graduated second time out in a five-furlong sprint in July, over a quality field that included future stakes winner Invitation Only. He went on to finish fifth in the Vandal Stakes and was second in Altius’s allowance triumph.

Bear’s Peak finished near Citius in fifth in his lone appearance Sept. 6, after breaking slowly and rallying five wide.

Baker said the appropriate distance for Bear’s Peak wasn’t available in maiden company, which is why he’s running him in the Bull Page.

“I wanted to go three-quarters with him,” he said.

Calius, another son of Old Forester, defeated Citius and Bear’s Peak when he prevailed Sept. 6.

Charlie Bull is shortening up off a third-place finish in an open allowance route won by the promising Delightful Mary.