Admiralty Pier bred for task at hand

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Admiralty Pier outran his pedigree when he romped sprinting on the grass first time out. He will try to punch his ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf in Sunday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Summer Stakes at Woodbine.

By English Channel and out of a Kitten’s Joy mare, Admiralty Pier is bred to run long, but he wasted no time finding the winner’s circle when he debuted in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race here Aug. 6. After dueling for the early lead, he drew off to prevail by 4 3/4 lengths in 1:18.31.

Trainer Barb Minshall was disappointed when the allowance prep for the Summer wasn’t used and said she considered running Admiralty Pier in the Grade 3 With Anticipation at Saratoga, but she ultimately decided to train him up to the Summer.

“I almost went to Saratoga to give him another race, but then you’re running back quick for a baby,” Minshall said. “He breezed well the other day, so we’re happy.”

The winner of the one-mile Summer gets a fees-paid trip to Del Mar for the BC Juvenile Turf. The Summer and the $100,000 Sweet Briar Too Stakes are the supporting features to the Grade 1 Natalma on Sunday.

KEY CONTENDERS

Admiralty Pier, by English Channel Beyer: 66

◗ “I like him a lot,” Minshall said. “He’s got some gears. He should develop into a really good route horse.” Count Alexander, by Scat Daddy Beyer: 72

◗ After taking up the chase in second, he made the lead in the stretch en route to a four-length score in a sixfurlong maiden special Aug. 27. Slade Callaghan rode him for trainer Mary Lightner and has the mount again in the Summer. They break from post 7 in a field of eight.

“I think he’s a really nice horse,” Callaghan said. “He breezed really well on Sunday. He couldn’t be any better right now. I think they’re going to have to run to beat him. I like his post position, towards the outside.”

Untamed Domain, by Animal Kingdom Beyers: 67-60-62

◗ After graduating second time out going long at Saratoga, he rallied for third in the Aug. 30 With Anticipation there. Trainer Graham Motion is adding blinkers, which is a high-percentage angle for him.

Hemp Hemp Hurray, by Artie Schiller Beyers: 80-72

◗ Trained by Wesley Ward, he aired in both of his starts, both going short, including the Tyro Stakes at Monmouth.

Sweet Briar Too Stakes

Sugar Jones seeks her first stakes win in the 6 1/2-furlong Sweet Briar Too for fillies and mares. Trained by Mike Mattine, she’s unbeaten in three allowances at the meet, including a victory over the speedy next-out winner Kasuga.

Other contenders in the 10-horse field include Sky My Sky, Code Warrior, and Moonlit Promise.