Owens high on London Tower ahead of Princess Elizabeth

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Can London Tower win the $250,000 Princess Elizabeth Stakes off just one start? She may be favored to do so in the 69th running of the 1 1/16-mile test for 2-year-old fillies Sunday at Woodbine.

Because of her stamina-oriented pedigree, owner and trainer Steve Owens said he debuted London Tower over seven furlongs against Ontario-sired company Oct. 4. Sent off as the 2-1 favorite, she went right to the front and kept on going to score by a widening 7 3/4 lengths. The 75 Beyer Speed Figure she earned is the highest career figure in the Princess Elizabeth lineup.

Owens said he wasn’t surprised to see London Tower graduate in a romp.

“We thought she was pretty special,” Owens said. “She had trained really well. She had outworked a bunch of horses. We were pretty confident in her ability.”

Gary Boulanger, who was supposed to ride London Tower in her debut, inherits the mount from Emma-Jayne Wilson, who is sticking with Brooklynsway.

“Boulanger was going to ride her, but Emma Wilson picked the mount up when Boulanger had to ride Leigh Court at Keeneland,” Owens said.

The Princess Elizabeth, which drew nine Canadian-breds, is carded as race 7 on a 10-race program.

KEY CONTENDERS

London Tower (Last Beyer: 75)

◗ Owens said his homebred is built to handle middle distances and has all the necessary tools for the task at hand.

“She’s a big, stout filly,” Owens said. “She’s easy on herself.”

Brooklynsway (Last 3 Beyers: 62-61-46)

◗ She rallied inside to win her maiden in style Aug. 27 in the $200,800 Muskoka, a stakes for graduates of local yearling sales. She subsequently ran second to Breeders’ Cup competitor Conquest Harlanate in the Grade 3 Mazarine, which was her first venture around two turns.

◗ Her trainer, John Ross, developed Lexie Lou before selling her in the spring prior to her Queen’s Plate triumph. Lexie Lou was second to Paladin Bay in last year’s Princess Elizabeth.

Shez a Masterpiece (Last 3 Beyers: 72-72-56)

◗ Claimed for $80,000 at Del Mar by Gary Barber, she graduated on the stretch-out in her second local appearance for trainer Mark Casse.

Grandpa’s Princess (Last 2 Beyers: 67-59)

◗ The New York shipper was supplemented for $5,000 off a second-out maiden special weight win at Belmont. She made both of her starts over wet dirt tracks, and she has no synthetic-track experience.

Quidi Vidi (Last 3 Beyers: 56-58-62)

◗ After graduating over seven furlongs in August, she finished second in the Muskoka and then ran greenly when fourth in the Mazarine.