Bond James Bond merits edge over Boomtown Brat in Juvenile

The $50,000 Canadian Juvenile at Northlands Park on Sunday drew 10 2-year-olds but it shapes up as a match race between Bond James Bond and Boomtown Brat. The one-mile feature will go as the last race on the nine-race card that begins at 1 p.m. Mountain.

Bond James Bond and Boomtown Brat are undefeated but Bond James Bond could have an edge. Trained by Robertino Diodoro, Bond James Bond is coming off of a convincing win in the one-mile Alberta Premier’s Futurity on Sept. 18 while Boomtown Brat will be trying three turns for the first time following his win in the 6 1/2-furlong Birdcatcher on Aug. 28.

Bond James Bond was purchased for a bargain $3,500 by Monica Russell, who was acting as the agent for Riversedge Racing Stables at the 2009 Alberta Summer Sale. A half-brother to $264,834 stakes placed Exciting Metro and six-time route winner Exciting Trick, Bond James Bond has already earned more than $68,000 for Riversedge. It looked like he might be tiring when he drifted out turning for home in the Alberta Premier’s with Rico Walcott aboard, but he leveled off and finished strongly when he straightened out midstretch.

Walcott retains the mount.

Boomtown Brat, trained by Rod Cone, has been an impressive winner in both of his starts with Ruben Lara riding. In his debut, he broke on top and never looked back when he beat Points Alert in a 3 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race July 30. In the Birdcatcher, he dueled with Points Alert early and then drew off to win by 4 1/2 lengths. Considering Boomtown Brat’s four siblings have a combined record of 0-2-5 from 27 route attempts, he could have distance limitations.