Stephen turns tables on Tio Magico in Coronation Futurity

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Stephen turned the tables on Tio Magico in Sunday’s $250,000 Coronation Futurity, winning his maiden in a professional manner in the nine-furlong race for 2-year-olds at Woodbine.

Stephen was a fast-closing second to Tio Magico in an Oct. 4 maiden special, and Tio Magico led the way again in the Coronation Futurity while being pressed by Cup and Saucer Stakes winner Master Spy through honest fractions.

Stephen saved ground in seventh about four lengths off the lead, and then began to mount a rally on the far turn. He caught Tio Magico at the sixteenth pole before drawing away late to score by 1 1/4 lengths, in a time of 1:52.46.

Giant Waters, a 29-1 outsider, rallied for third, as the favored Master Spy faded to fourth in the eight-horse field of Canadian-breds.

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The victory was the fifth on the card for leading rider Justin Stein, who got a leg up from trainer Kevin Attard.

“He broke a little bit funny, but we recovered quick,” Stein said. “I was happy with the trip we were getting. He just ran a good race. He put his mind to task when he got some daylight. He took aim at that horse in front of him and ran him down and ran by him professionally.”

Stephen ($6.30) earned $150,000 for owners Al and Bill Ulwelling, who bought the son of leading second-crop sire Constitution for $170,000 at a Florida 2-year-old sale.

“He was coming into this race in great shape, so we were pretty high on our chances,” Attard said.