Tiller enjoying fast start to meet

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Bob Tiller has gotten off to a fast start at the meet. He topped the trainers’ standings heading into this week with seven wins from 20 starters, one victory more than perennial leader Mark Casse. Last year, Tiller finished a clear second in the standings with 62 wins while scoring at a solid 21 percent clip.

Tiller has a deep bench of 3-year-olds who seem poised to carry the stable for a while before his 2-year-olds make the races.

“We have a lot more 2-year-olds now than we had at this time last year,” Tiller said. “We don’t have as many older horses. The 3-year-olds and older horses that we have can run. They have talent, and if they’re in the right spot, they’ll be right there. We like to buy them all ourselves for different owners, and we try to concentrate on the Ontario-sired program. It’s worked out.”

Tiller has two notable nominees for the Queen’s Plate, a $1 million stakes for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds here July 6: Spadina Road and Tulio’s Brew.

Spadina Road placed in two sprint stakes before prevailing Dec. 7 in the restricted Kingarvie Stakes, in which he upset Asserting Bear going 1 1/16 miles.

“He’s training good,” Tiller said. “He’s not really bred to go long, but he certainly did in his last start last year. He seemed to enjoy it. We’re hoping for a good year from him. Whether or not the ultimate goal is the Plate, time will tell. We’re probably going to run him in the Queenston and go from there.”

The $150,000 Queenston Stakes is a seven-furlong sprint for Ontario-breds on May 17.

Tulio’s Brew is unbeaten in two starts, both against Ontario-sired company. Following a five-month layoff, he steadily rallied to take a seven-furlong allowance with determination April 27.

“We’re dreaming about the Plate with him,” Tiller said. “It’s not impossible at all. He’s a pretty nice horse with a big, long stride. I thought he had a difficult trip going seven-eighths but still got up the inside to win.”

The Imposter also captured both of his outings, including a five-furlong optional claimer April 20. Tiller owns the gelded son of Wilko himself.

Sweater Weather, like Tulio’s Brew, is from the first Ontario-sired crop of successful stallion Milwaukee Brew. She graduated second time out, traveling three-quarters Dec. 14, and is well regarded by her conditioner.

“She’s talented,” Tiller said. “If she goes on, it would really help her.”

Sweater Weather is not coupled in Sunday’s ninth race with another Tiller comebacker, She Ain’t Bad, who looked good while earning her diploma at second asking Nov. 30.

Tiller has been pointing Langstaff for the $125,000 New Providence Stakes, a six-furlong race for older Ontario-sired stock May 19 on Polytrack. The versatile 4-year-old won the Bold Ruckus Stakes on grass last June and subsequently ran second in the Deputy Minister Stakes on Polytrack before closing for third in the one-mile Vice Regent Stakes on the lawn.

“We’re taking our time with him,” Tiller said. “He’s worked good. I think he’s better on the turf, and I’m hoping he’ll go long one day.”

Splashy Gizmo in Sunday feature

There is no stakes on Sunday’s nine-race card. Tiller sends out the entry of X Squared and Be Mind Phil in the featured sixth race, a six-furlong allowance for Ontario-sired non-winners-of-three females.

Be Mind Phil wired non-winners-of-two allowance stock over seven furlongs in her season opener, while X Squared finished fifth in her first start back.

Splashy Gizmo could be favored in the sixth, even though the Woodbine Oaks prospect is meeting older opposition in her first appearance of the year.

Splashy Gizmo rallied strongly, just missing beating the gifted Paladin Bay when she experimented around two turns Dec. 14 in the Ontario Lassie Stakes. She also was beaten a neck when second in the six-furlong Fanfreluche Stakes in October.

Patrick Husbands will ride Splashy Gizmo again for owner-trainer Nick Nosowenko, who recently scored here with the popular veteran Run to the Bank.