Woodbine: Queen Street Beach remains unbeaten in Deputy Minister

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Queen Street Beach wore down pacemaker Altius in the stretch to land his stakes debut in the $125,000 Deputy Minister on Wednesday night at Woodbine.

Queen Street Beach ($3.40) kept his unbeaten record intact in the seven-furlong sprint for Ontario-sired 3-year-olds. He won his first two starts in maiden and allowance company, and on Wednesday collected $75,000 for Melnyk Racing Stable in the Deputy Minister.

“This horse has done a lot in a little period of time,” said Mark Casse, who trains Queen Street Beach. “He’ll get a little down period now. He’s a beautiful-moving horse. He showed a lot of ability right from the get-go.”

Altius set moderate fractions, and Queen Street Beach loomed four wide into contention on the turn before hitting the front at the sixteenth pole en route to a half-length win. Old Blue Eyes, who pressed the early pace, finished three lengths back in third in the six-horse field. The final time was 1:22.88.