Fire and Wine ($36.40) adds Lasix, notches Coronation Futurity upset
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Longshot Fire and Wine added Lasix for a shockingly easy win in Saturday’s $250,500 Coronation Futurity at Woodbine.
Slade Jones let Fire and Wine roll from the outset and they set honest fractions in the historic 1 1/8-mile event for Canadian-bred 2-year-olds. Dixie Law, the much-fancied lone filly in the nine-horse field, took up the chase in second as Fire and Wine established a four-length advantage on the backstretch.
Fire and Wine had plenty left for the drive and coasted home on top by five lengths over a closing Military Time, who was bet down to favoritism around the time they left the gate. The final time was 1:51.90.
Imyourmedicineman, at 31-1, edged out a tiring Dixie Law for third. Amore Mio, Deputy Curlin, Speights Will, Buium, and Navy Street completed the order of finish.
Fire and Wine ($36.40) was coming off a front-running maiden score under Jones against Ontario-sired and $40,000 maidens.
“I had a lot of confidence in him,” Jones said. “I knew he was a real good horse. I get on him all the time. He has that big stride — just keeps running. I told myself to go to the lead and make them come after me. It played out great that way. Once I got to the half-mile pole and felt him underneath me, I had a lot of confidence right about there. I didn’t expect him to kick on like that. He ran a huge race.”
Fire and Wine earned $150,000 for owner Paul Ryder. Zeljko Krcmar trains the son of freshman sire Lexitonian.
“It’s unreal,” Ryder said. “His first stakes race. I didn’t think he could do it again. I thought that was a little bit of a fluke last time. When I saw him take lead and open it up, I thought he’s going to do it again. Then, he had something left in the stretch — he just opened up. He’s an amazing horse.”
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