Woodbine: Alpha Bettor solidifies Sovereign credentials by winning Autumn

ETOBICOKE, Ontario—Alpha Bettor may have sewn up the Sovereign Award for this year’s champion older male in Canada with a determined score in Friday’s Grade 2, $155,800 Autumn Stakes at Woodbine.

Occasional View, who was claimed for $100,000 from his last race by trainer Ken McPeek, set honest fractions in the 1 1/16-mile route, while being pressed by Pender Harbour. Occasional View established a clear lead in the stretch, before Alpha Bettor ($10.10) kicked in strongly to nail him on the wire by a neck, in 1:43.79. Pender Harbour faded to third in a field reduced to nine with the scratch of Mezzano.

Justin Stein rode Alpha Bettor, who won his third graded stakes of the year for Bulldog Racing and trainer Danny Vella.

“He’s an amazing horse,” said Stein. “He has a ton of talent. Danny lets me ride him however I’m comfortable with. He gives me a few pointers, but this horse pretty much does it all. He relishes the competition. He really dug in to run that horse down. He’s a class act.”