Woodbine: Asserting Bear can stake claim to title in Kingarvie

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The improving Asserting Bear should be favored in Saturday’s $125,000 Kingarvie Stakes, and a victory in the 1 1/16-mile event should ensure that he’ll end up a Sovereign Award finalist when the votes are tabulated for Canadian champion 2-year-old.

Asserting Bear raced exclusively on turf in his first four outings, which included a maiden victory and a lapped-on third in the Cup and Saucer Stakes. He made quite an impression in his first Polytrack start Nov. 17 by winning the $250,000 Coronation Futurity, a nine-furlong test for Canadian-breds.

Asserting Bear drops into Ontario-sired company on Saturday, when Jim McAleney will ride him again for trainer Reade Baker.

“This horse is brilliant right now,” McAleney said. “I’ve never seen a 2-year-old improve and go through so much growth, mentally and physically. He’s changed physically, and he handles everything so well. He’s an absolute professional. I’m really excited about the horse.”

Among the other Kingarvie contenders are Spadina Road, Coltimus Prime, Latin Piper, and Iron Wolf.

Spadina Road is stretching out off a runner-up placing in the seven-furlong Frost King for Ontario-sired juveniles, which followed a third in another Ontario-sired stakes, the six-furlong Bull Page.

Trainer Bob Tiller was concerned that Spadina Road, a $77,000 yearling purchase by speed sire Where’s the Ring, is facing runners who are proven around two turns.

“Some horses in there have already won going long,” Tiller said. “The horse tries real hard. He’s in good order. He’s ready to run. He’s got to get the two turns, and Where’s the Ring is a question mark. He was a gorgeous yearling. We paid a lot of money for him, and he’s (won out). It’s his last start this year, and we might as well find out now if he can go long.”

Coltimus Prime romped on the lead second time out in a seven-furlong maiden special Nov. 17, scoring by eight lengths. The son of stamina influence Milwaukee Brew is a half-brother to the stakes-winning sprinter Crysta’s Court.

Latin Piper overcame a slow start to land his Oct. 26 debut going seven furlongs, after which he galloped out well. The average win distance of both his sire (Niigon) and dam’s progeny is a long 8.3 furlongs.

Iron Wolf exhibited speed when he graduated at first asking June 30. He was then idle until Nov. 9, when he closed belatedly from off slow fractions to finish third in the Frost King.

Coltimus Prime and Man Cave were cross-entered in Sunday’s $125,000 Display Stakes.