Master Spy goes longer in Coronation Futurity

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Cup and Saucer Stakes winner Master Spy will test his mettle over 1 1/8 miles on Tapeta in 117th running of the $250,000 Coronation Futurity for Canadian-bred 2-year-olds on Sunday at Woodbine.

Master Spy won his maiden third time out in a one-mile maiden special on the grass Sept. 13. He doubled up Oct. 10 in the $250,400 Cup and Saucer, setting moderate fractions before drawing clear for a 3 1/4-length score in the 1 1/16-mile turf event.

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Master Spy gave jockey Patrick Husbands his fifth win in the Cup and Saucer.

“By the time I left the gate, he was relaxed,” Husbands said. “He was never rank at all. I just feel that everything went my way. He’s a nice horse.”

A $72,000 yearling purchase by Silent Name for owner Tracy Farmer, Master Spy was well regarded by trainer Mark Casse when he was training in Florida in spring.

“We’ve been excited about him since early spring,” Casse said. “He’d trained exceptionally well in Ocala. I thought his early races were okay, and the [Cup and Saucer win] didn’t surprise me. I don’t think we have seen the best of him. I believe the two turns is going to help him.”

The eight-horse field includes the top two finishers from a 1 1/16-mile maiden special here Oct. 4, Tio Magico and Stephen.

Tio Magico, an Uncle Mo colt trained by Gail Cox for Sam-Son Farm, led all the way that day despite ducking in twice during the stretch run. He was a troubled sixth going short in his only other start. He worked a good five-eighths in 1:00.80 last Sunday.

Stephen was eighth as the favorite when he debuted in the restricted Simcoe Stakes over 6 1/2 furlongs on Aug. 30. The son of leading second-crop sire Constitution closed stoutly from seventh to finish a half-length behind Tio Magico when adding Lasix on Oct. 4 and has since worked twice.

“He had trained really good into that two-turn race, ran a good race, and got stalled a little,” trainer Kevin Attard said. “He showed patience and a good turn of foot.”

Trainer Barbara Minshall entered British Royalty and Threefiftyseven.

British Royalty was squeezed at the break and closed from ninth to win his opening race, a mile and 70-yard maiden special Oct. 11. The son of English Channel breezed five-eighths in 1:01.80 in company last Sunday.

Threefiftyseven graduated third time out in a Tapeta sprint Sept. 7 before ending up a clear second in the Cup and Saucer.

The consistent maiden Giant Waters rallied on his left lead for third in the Cup and Saucer. This will be his first start on Tapeta.