Impressive debut winner Kitten’s Boy steps up in Coronation Futurity

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Kitten’s Boy will look to deliver a seventh win for owner and breeder Sam-Son Farm in the $225,000 Coronation Futurity for Canadian-bred 2-year-olds over 1 1/8 miles on Tapeta on Sunday at Woodbine.

Kitten’s Boy enters off a threequarter-length win around two turns in his career debut Oct. 14. The race was washed off the turf and run on the Tapeta, a surface switch that had trainer Malcolm Pierce uncertain about what to expect from the son of Kitten’s Joy.

Pierce said that Kitten’s Boy’s debut effort was a bit of a surprise to him.

“It kind of was, actually, because I think this horse is a much better turf horse,” he said. “A lot of Kitten’s Joy babies, they seem to run a lot better going long on the grass. I had a lot of questions going into the race whether he would get it done. I know he’s kind of a nice gelding, but he performed better than I expected for sure.”

While the Coronation Futurity could be viewed as an early preview of next year’s Queen’s Plate, Pierce has another potential Canadian classic target in mind for next season given Kitten’s Boy’s turf breeding.

“He’s a nice, little, handy horse,” he said. “This will be his last race of the season, and he’ll have a break, and hopefully he matures into a nice 3-year-old for us, and maybe he’s our Breeders’ Stakes horse for next year.”

KEY CONTENDERS

Kitten’s Boy, by Kitten’s Joy Beyer: 74

◗ Alone or in partnership, Sam-Son has won the Coronation Futurity in 1984 (Dauphin Fabuleaux), 1985 (Grey Classic), 1987 (Regal Classic), 1990 (Rainbows for Life), 1999 (Dixieland Diamond), and 2012 (Up With the Birds). Kitten’s Boy’s jockey Eurico Da Silva, Pierce, and Sam-Son Farm combined to win with Up With the Birds.

◗ Da Silva will enter the weekend with 31 stakes wins for the meet and has two stakes mounts on Saturday. He’s chasing the record of 36 stakes wins by a jockey in a single Woodbine season, which has been achieved by both Todd Kabel (2004) and Avelino Gomez (1966).

Aheadbyacentury, by Midnight Lute Last 3 Beyers: 73-63-69

◗ Following two sprint stakes starts to begin his career, Aheadbyacentury won his maiden in his first start going long Oct. 1. Luis Contreras was aboard for the win but has opted to ride Cooler Mike here. Rafael Hernandez will take over in the saddle.

Cooler Mike, by Giant Gizmo Last 3 Beyers: 67-59-69

◗ He’s won two of his four starts, with both victories coming on synthetic.

◗ He most recently finished fourth in the Cup and Saucer Stakes over 1 1/16 miles on turf Oct. 8, and ran second in the Simcoe Stakes over 6 1/2 furlongs on Tapeta on Aug. 30.

Neepawa, by Scat Daddy Last 3 Beyers: 65-54-66

◗ He’ll make his synthetic debut following a fifth-place finish in the Cup and Saucer Stakes. He’s breezed twice on the Tapeta since then, including a bullet four furlongs in 48.00 seconds on Oct. 27.