Passion for Action tries two turns in Coronation Futurity

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Passion for Action will be charting unknown territory Saturday at Woodbine, where he will compete around two turns for the first time in the $250,000 Coronation Futurity, for Canadian-bred 2-year-olds.

Passion for Action graduated in his second time out in a six-furlong maiden special weight race on grass Aug. 3 and has raced on that surface ever since. He nearly upset Conquest Tsunami in the seven-furlong allowance prep for the Summer Stakes and then skipped the Grade 2 Summer itself due to a virus.

Following a seven-week layoff Oct. 12, the son of Speightstown and Shady Well Stakes winner Maritime Passion won the $250,000 Cup and Saucer Stakes convincingly, going 1 1/16 miles around one turn.

“He’s been outrunning his pedigree but not so far as his talent goes,” trainer Mike De Paulo said. “His mother was a sprinter, and you think of the Speightstowns as sprinters, although he’s had horses who go long. He doesn’t waste any energy, and he’s very rateable, which is half the battle. I think he’ll be sitting in midpack, waiting to pounce.”

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Nine others were entered in the nine-furlong Coronation, which has been won by the likes of Northern Dancer, Sunny’s Halo, and Up With the Birds.

KEY CONTENDERS

Passion for Action (Last 3 Beyers: 80-76-74)

He was a distant third going five furlongs when he debuted July 13 on Polytrack, a surface which De Paulo believes he handles fine.

“He just stood in the gate in his first race and then came running, so it’s not like he didn’t handle it,” De Paulo said. “Gary Boulanger is going to ride him, and he’s pretty confident in the way he’s handled the Poly.”

Brooklynsway (Last 3 Beyers: 75-62-61)

After graduating in style in the Aug. 27 Muskoka Stakes, she ran second to Conquest Harlanate in the Grade 3 Mazarine before capturing the $250,000 Princess Elizabeth Stakes on Nov. 2.

Fillies don’t often run in the Coronation, and the last one to win it was Stole the Ring in 1957.

Danzig Moon (Beyers: 81-69)

This well-bred maiden by Malibu Moon got away slowly before closing from left field for second in a one-mile maiden special weight race his second time out at Churchill Downs on Oct. 26. He has little experience on Polytrack, over which he worked five-eighths in 1:00.60 here Nov. 22.

Decision Day (Beyers: 62-56)

After ending up second in his debut, he ran greenly en route to a daylight score over next-out winner Bears Personality in a maiden special going one mile and 70 yards Oct. 13.