Velocitor ($44.90) surprises in Coronation Futurity

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Velocitor rode a golden rail in a longshot score over a troubled Twin City in Sunday’s $253,000 Coronation Futurity for Canadian-bred 2-year-olds at Woodbine.

From post 11, Justin Stein put Velocitor on the point, was soon joined up front by Battle Strike, and they proceeded to vie through slow fractions in the 1 1/8-mile event.

Velocitor ($44.90) took control in the stretch while Twin City sought room along the inside. Twin City came flying late after finding a clear path, only to come up a neck short. The final time was 1:52.

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Favored Philip My Dear finished third after a tough three-wide trip, and J’adoro wound up fourth in the 14-horse field.

Velocitor, from the first crop of Met Mile victor Mor Spirit, earned $150,000 in his first start around two turns.

“I looked at his form and it showed he had natural speed sprinting,” Stein said. “First time going two turns, I figured his best bet would be to try to get him to relax on the lead. He was very relaxed and traveling comfortably within himself. He looks to me like a router - his kind of physique.”

It was the second win in the last three runnings of the Coronation Futurity for the combination of owners Al and Bill Ulwelling and trainer Kevin Attard. They won it in 2020 with Stephen, and it was Attard’s third triumph in the historic event.

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