London Tower tries turf in Ontario Colleen
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – London Tower takes on a quality field of 3-year-old fillies in her turf debut Saturday at Woodbine in the Grade 3, $150,000 Ontario Colleen Stakes.
London Tower was a charging second as the favorite June 14 in the Woodbine Oaks, finishing behind Academic, who subsequently won the Grade 3 Canadian Derby. London Tower went on to finish a close third in the second leg of the Canadian Triple Tiara, the Bison City Stakes.
London Tower had made a habit of breaking slowly prior to her most recent start in the Eternal Search Stakes for Ontario-sired fillies. After getting away cleanly, she made a wide bid for the lead on the far turn and dug in to hold off Galina Point for the win.
“That was a confidence builder,” said owner and breeder Steve Owens, who also trains the large daughter of Head Chopper.
Eight others were entered in the one-mile Ontario Colleen, including the stakes winners Don’t Leave Me, Mississippi Delta, and Her Majesty’s Flag.
Key contenders
London Tower (Last 3 Beyers: 86-82-85)
* Dating back to last year, she has worked three times over Woodbine’s turf training course, including five-eighths in 59.20 seconds Aug. 9.
“She worked awful good on it,” Owens said.
Don’t Leave Me (Last 3 Beyers: 76-81-72)
* This Grade 3 stakes winner’s turf form is spotty. She was a troubled fourth June 13 in the Grade 3 Regret at Churchill and has worked regularly for her return from a summer vacation.
Mississippi Delta (Last 3 Beyers: 83-84-81)
* She was a visually impressive winner of her season opener June 14 in the 6 1/2-furlong Alywow Stakes, in which she rallied to win going away. Most recently, she did not fire in her first two-turn attempt in the Grade 2 Lake George at Saratoga, but she wasn’t all that far back in seventh.
Her Majesty’s Flag (Last 3 Beyers: 76-36-59)
* She notched her first stakes win over a modest group July 19 in the seven-furlong Duchess on Polytrack.
* Trainer Dave Cotey said she had numerous excuses for her poor showing in the Alywow, her only turf start.
“That’s when she was messed up on all counts,” he said.
Green Doctor (Last 3 Beyers: 82-70-73)
* She was a commendable third July 18 in the one-mile Ontario Damsel Stakes, just six days after ending up sixth as the pacesetter in the Bison City. The Damsel runner-up, Season Ticket, returned to capture the restricted Wonder Where Stakes convincingly.