Woodbine: Maritimer makes title bid with Display victory

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Favored Maritimer established himself as a contender for Canadian champion 2-year-old and for next year’s Queen’s Plate with a decisive score in the $175,300 Display Stakes at Woodbine Sunday.

Maritimer closed four wide from mid-pack to prevail by 5 1/2 lengths over Menlo Castle, a result that mirrored the Nov. 6 Coronation Futurity, a stakes for Canadian-breds. The 1 1/16-mile Display is an open race. Maritimer covered the distance in a quick 1:43.58, giving jockey Luis Contreras his third winner on the card.

Maritimer ($4.70) earned $108,000 for Norseman Racing Stable and trainer Sid Attard.

“This horse has gotten better, race after race,” said Attard. “He’s a big horse, and it’s not a problem to take him back. When he asked him from the three-eighths pole, he really went on. I was very excited.”

Menlo Castle, who set honest middle fractions of 49.06 and 1:13.10, finished a clear second over Patrioticandproud, who nosed out Runaway Lion for third. Splendiferous, the lone shipper in the nine-horse field, wound up sixth as the 3-1 second choice.