Kevin Attard holds strong hands in Coronation, Princess Elizabeth

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The $250,000 Coronation Futurity was once thought to be a barometer for the following year’s Queen’s Plate, but the winner of the nine-furlong test for Canadian-bred 2-year-olds hasn’t gone on to capture the Plate since Norcliffe in 1975-76.

Trainer Kevin Attard is hoping to end the longstanding drought sooner than later. He won the Coronation in two of the past three years and will saddle King Rosso and Zippy Gizmo in Saturday’s renewal.

The promising maiden King Rosso finished third in the Oct. 14 Cup and Saucer Stakes on the grass before ending up sixth in the Grade 3 Grey on Tapeta.

“He ran a good race in the Cup and Saucer and was in a good spot in the Grey before flattening out,” Attard said. “He’s running on Lasix this time, and we’re adding a set of blinkers.”

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Zippy Gizmo is getting back on the Tapeta after three straight turf engagements that included a victory in the Bull Page Stakes. He was a wide sixth most recently in the Cup and Saucer, which was won by the future Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf third-place finisher My Boy Prince.

“I think the distance is going to suit him well,” Attard predicted.

Maryland-based Naptown is shipping back in for his first start since a dominant second-out maiden score going seven-eighths here Oct. 29.

“It’s a big ask to go a mile and an eighth, but I think it should be something he can handle,” trainer Graham Motion said. “He’s a pretty straightforward, uncomplicated horse. He’s done well and he’s worked well leading up to this race.”

Piper’s Factor should be well-backed in the 10-horse field with leading rider Kazushi Kimura taking over for trainer Katerina Vassilieva. He won a fast maiden special second time out before a chalky second in the Grey on Nov. 4.

Olivia Rose stretches out

Olivia Rose will attempt to stretch her speed out to 1 1/16 miles in Saturday’s $250,000 Princess Elizabeth for Canadian-bred 2-year-old fillies.

A homebred owned by Gabe Grossberg, Olivia Rose graduated third time out by 13 3/4 lengths with a 75 Beyer Speed Figure on Aug. 26. She subsequently ran second in the Victorian Queen before landing another Ontario-sired stakes, the 6 1/2-furlong South Ocean, by 6 1/2 lengths with an 88 Beyer, the highest by a 2-year-old filly at Woodbine this year.

“I was very impressed with her last start,” trainer Mark Casse said. “I’m excited to give her a try going long because it could open up a lot of opportunities for her.”

Attard entered Airosa, War Painter, and maiden Inudation among the field of nine.

Airosa won two consecutive turf sprints in the summer, including the Catch a Glimpse Stakes. She has been idle since finishing eighth against the boys in the Grade 1 Summer here Sept. 16.

“We’ve always thought highly of her,” Attard said. “The only time she ran on the Tapeta it was five furlongs and too short for her. Stretching out, her pedigree suggests that should be fine. We’re adding a set of blinkers.”

War Painter won her maiden in the Sept. 24 Victorian Queen before finishing a creditable fifth in the Cup and Saucer.

“She’s a very nice filly,” Attard said. “She’s another one who’s bred to go long. I think she’s going to give a good account of herself.”

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