Woodbine: Win City again

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The aptly named Win City won his third consecutive stakes Saturday at Woodbine in the $162,750 Plate Trial, an important prep for the June 24 Queen's Plate.

Win City, under Constant Montpellier, saved ground early while racing well off a lively pace in the 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds. Won Strike, recently supplemented to the Plate for $15,000, set fractions of 22.87 seconds and 46.88 while being stalked by Legal Heir and Brushing Bully.

Brushing Bully assumed command heading into the far turn, as Win City began to mount his four-wide rally. Win City hit the front at the quarter pole and never looked back, coasting home by 3 3/4 lengths over a closing Millennium Allstar. Brushing Bully finished another 4 1/4 lengths back in third in the six-horse field of Canadian-breds. The final time was 1:52.08.

"He's improved with every race," said Montpellier. "I was just a passenger today. I took him outside, and just let him cruise around there."

A son of Slew City Slew trained by Bob Tiller, Win City returned $4.40 as the favorite. He earned $97,650 for the estate of Frank DiGiulio and Frank DiGiulio Jr. Frank DiGiulio, who died last Saturday after a long illness, bred Win City in partnership with his son.