Coltimus Prime back home with Nixon

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Prince of Wales Stakes winner Coltimus Prime returned to trainer Justin Nixon’s barn at Woodbine on Saturday morning.

Coltimus Prime had moved to trainer Christophe Clement over the winter, with an eye on a dirt campaign after he recorded a career-best 93 Beyer Speed Figure on dirt in the Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie last July. But he failed to hit the board in two starts on dirt and another on turf on the New York circuit.

“He’s back here at Woodbine full time,” Nixon said. “They wanted to try the dirt and try to keep him on the dirt, which we don’t have here. It was kind of an experiment that didn’t pan out, so it was time for him to come home.”

Nixon said Coltimus Prime sustained some cuts and bruises in his last race on June 6 at Belmont, and that there were no firm plans for him. Coltimus Prime should have plenty of options available to him once he’s ready to make his next start, however. The 4-year-old son of Milwaukee Brew is still eligible for his open second-level allowance condition, and could also run in Ontario-sired stakes.

“We’re just going to see how he is and go from there,” Nixon said. “Nothing concrete has been thought of yet. He’s banged up a little bit. He sustained some cuts on his left front leg, but otherwise he looks like he’ll be fine.”