Woodbine: Don Cavallio, Stately Victor meet up again in Durham Cup

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Don Cavallo and Stately Victor, who both competed in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic, head a tiny five-horse field in Sunday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Durham Cup Stakes at Woodbine.

Don Cavallo ran the race of his life here two starts ago in the Grade 3 Dominion Day Stakes. He pressed the early pace in the 1 1/4-mile fixture, and then opened up a big lead on the far turn before coasting home on top by nearly four lengths, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 98.

Don Cavallo was never in serious contention during a wide journey in the 10-furlong Pacific Classic, and wound up seventh under Luis Contreras. His trainer, Roger Attfield, said he had mixed feelings about his Del Mar trip.

“It was very enjoyable,” said Attfield. “The weather was great. The race didn’t go the way I wanted it to go. I think it would have been better just to let him run his race from the one hole, as opposed to getting him to the outside and rating him. He was stepping up big-time, but I thought he was capable of doing it. He came out if it fine, and he’s been working very well since he got back.”

Stately Victor is winless in eight starts since he won here in the 2010 Ontario Derby. He finished third in both the Dominion Day and the Aug. 28 Pacific Classic, for which he got a 99 Beyer Figure.

Mike Smith will ride Stately Victor for white-hot Kentucky trainer Mike Maker. They teamed up to take the Ontario Derby with Derby Kitten here last weekend.

City Wolf is trying stakes company for the first time off a layoff and a three-race win streak. After graduating over seven furlongs May 7, City Wolf won a 1 1/16-mile allowance with a 97 Beyer on June 18. He defeated future stakes winner Riley Ripasso and the talented Mobilizer in a nine-furlong optional claimer that was taken off the turf July 24.

James Street rallied inside for second in the July 1 Dominion Day, before taking the Grade 3 Seagram Cup Stakes in his first start for trainer Josie Carroll here Aug. 6.

Eye of the Leopard has been idle since running second to Pool Play in the Valedictory Stakes, a 1 3/4-mile Polytrack marathon here Dec. 5. The 2009 Queen’s Plate winner, he finished a flat sixth in last year’s Durham Cup.