Woodbine: Cotey high on Danny Ocean ahead of Swynford Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Dave Cotey won the 2008 Swynford Stakes with the eventual Canadian champion 2-year-old Mine That Bird, who went on to capture the 2009 Kentucky Derby after being sold.

Cotey has a promising maiden for Saturday’s edition of the $125,000 Swynford, Danny Ocean, who has the makings of a live longshot in the seven-furlong test for juveniles.

Danny Ocean chased home Woodbine’s top 2-year-old Go Greeley in his two outings, finishing fourth in a maiden special weight race and sixth in the Colin Stakes.

Five days before the July 20 Colin, Danny Ocean worked five furlongs in a sizzling 58.20 seconds in company with the 2012 Canadian turf champion, Riding the River, which seemed to cook him for that race, according to Cotey.

“We weren’t planning to go in 58,” Cotey said. “He wasn’t ready to do that. It was way too close to the race, and his shins were tickling him a little.”

Cotey was quite satisfied with Danny Ocean’s last two breezes. On Aug. 3, he went in 59.80, which was the quickest of 63 five-furlong drills that day. He covered the same distance last Sunday in 1:01, which was the sixth-fastest of 55 works.

“I believe he’s a real nice horse,” Cotey said. “He does things effortlessly.”

Spadina Road, like Danny Ocean, was supplemented to the Swynford at a cost of $2,500.

Spadina Road crushed Ontario-sired maiden-special opponents over six furlongs in his only start July 28. After getting sandwiched at the break, he rallied three wide from fourth to prevail by 6 1/2 lengths, earning a 57 Beyer Speed Figure.

Spadina Road, by speed sire Where’s the Ring, was a $76,000 yearling purchase by Rolph Davis. His trainer, Bob Tiller, also conditioned his half-sister Casa Loma, who was second in the Star Shoot Stakes.

Tiller said he has another option for Spadina Road, the $200,000 Simcoe, a 6 1/2-furlong stakes for graduates of local yearling sales Wednesday.

“We have to see how this race comes up,” Tiller said.

Trainer Mark Casse won last year’s Swynford with Uncaptured, who went on to become the 2012 Canadian Horse of the Year and champion 2-year-old.

On Saturday, Casse sends out Conquest Titan, who faded to finish a distant fourth after helping to set the pace as the favorite in a June 30 maiden special weight race at Churchill Downs.

Trainer Ricky Griffith entered Tuscan Getaway and a promising filly, Ria Antonia.

Trainer Nick Gonzalez sends out I Got That Memo, a recent debut winner on grass, and Dig Alittle Deeper.