Souper Survivor better prepared against easier group in Bull Page
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Bill Tharrenos was quite high on Souper Survivor heading into the $300,000 Simcoe Stakes for 2-year-old graduates of Canadian yearling sales Aug. 30, but the colt finished a flat third. He should be more effective against an easier group in Sunday’s Bull Page, one of three $150,000 stakes on the Woodbine card, along with the Victorian Queen and Belfountain.
Souper Survivor led all the way in his July 12 debut in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special for Ontario-sired maidens. The son of Souper Speedy prevailed by a widening 10 1/4 lengths and got a 73 Beyer Speed Figure under Emma-Jayne Wilson.
That dominant performance helped to make Souper Survivor the favorite in the 6 1/2-furlong Simcoe. After posting two fast five-furlong works heading into the race, he tracked the pace on the outside and then vied for the lead in midstretch before finishing three-quarters of a length behind the charging winner, King’s Counsel.
“I was a little disappointed, but I’ve got a good feeling why,” Tharrenos said regarding the Simcoe. “He ran out of trainer – it wasn’t the horse. His protein was down and maybe I was a little hard on him. We’re boosting him back up to get him back to where he was.”
The 6 1/2-furlong Bull Page lured five other Ontario-sired male juveniles, including Longshot Leo, who edged out Souper Survivor for second in the Simcoe. That was his fourth runner-up placing in as many starts for trainer Dale Desruisseaux.
Belfountain
The inaugural running of the Belfountain attracted nine older Ontario-bred females set to go about 1 1/8 miles on the main turf, including Ontario, Elysian Field, Fortyfiveseventy, and War Painter.
Based at Saratoga with Joe Sharp, the aptly named Ontario finished sixth in two straight conditioned allowances at Churchill before breaking through most recently in a 1 1/8-mile conditioned allowance on the Saratoga grass. She rallied from 12 lengths back in the latter event to win by a head with a career-high 89 Beyer.
Elysian Field, Canada’s champion 3-year-old filly and Woodbine Oaks winner in 2023, hasn’t shown much since taking the Grade 3 Seaway in August of 2025. The Mark Casse charge is returning from a layoff after posting some solid works.
Fortyfiveseventy has improved with each subsequent appearance at the meet, finishing a close third behind Fantastical and Lupa most recently in the Grade 3 Trillium.
War Painter is cross-entered in Saturday’s Grade 3 Ontario Matron. She was overmatched last time out when sixth in the Grade 2 Canadian on the inner turf.
◗ The female version of the Bull Page, the Victorian Queen, drew a field of seven headed by Sarayu.
Trained by James Bentley Begg, Sarayu won her June 20 debut on the Tapeta and subsequently finished seventh in the My Dear Stakes, also on the Tapeta. She was a very respectable fourth most recently in another open stakes, the 6 1/2-furlong Catch a Glimpse Stakes on the main turf.
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