Seffeara returns fresh for Bull Page Stakes
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – After enduring his first loss, Seffeara will try to rebound Saturday at Woodbine in the $125,000 Bull Page Stakes, a six-furlong dash for Ontario-sired juvenile colts and geldings.
Seffeara made quite a splash when debuting in a 4 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race June 8. He darted out to a clear lead and never looked back to prevail by 11 3/4 lengths in a track-record 51.01 seconds. He subsequently won the Clarendon Stakes over future Grade 2 Summer Stakes winner Conquest Typhoon.
Seffeara battled with Imperial Dream during a torrid early pace en route to finishing second in the six-furlong Vandal Stakes on Aug. 16. “[Imperial Dream] ran his eyeballs out,” said Steve Owens, who trains Seffeara. “Our horse ran really well. Maybe we should have stayed with him because when he took a deep breath around the turn, [Imperial Dream] took off on him, and then we chased him.”
Since the Vandal, Seffeara has worked a half-mile over a sloppy training track in 49.40 seconds, five furlongs in 1:01 on the Polytrack, and then five furlongs around the cones on the turf training course in 1:03.60.
“He was a little tired after his last race, which was expected because of how he ran,” Owens said. “I took my time with him, regrouped, and looked for an easier spot. I worked him on the turf just to change his training pattern up. I’ve done all sorts of different things with him. He’s had six weeks off between races and should be going over there pretty good on Saturday.”
KEY CONTENDERS
Seffeara (Last 3 Beyers: 78-66-82)
◗ There are several other speedy types in the field, and it will be interesting to see if he tries to run them off their feet or employ a stalking style.
Phil’s Cocktail (Last 3 Beyers: 59-53-50)
◗ The powerful bay gelding rode an inside bias to a front-running score in the 6 1/2-furlong Simcoe, one of six stakes for graduates of local yearling sales Aug. 27. His final time was about a second faster than the Muskoka Stakes for juvenile fillies on the same night, but he earned a lower Beyer Speed Figure than that race, so a Beyer upgrade to around 70 is more realistic for his performance in the $201,200 event.
Goodoldhockeygame (Last Beyer: 69)
◗ He was bumped at the start before parlaying a stalking trip into a narrow victory over next-out winner Where’s the Widget in his lone outing in a five-furlong maiden special weight race Aug. 24.
◗ Trainer Bob Tiller won the 1988 Bull Page with Domasca Dan.