Dragon’s Brew moves to turf

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Dragon’s Brew will put his unbeaten record on the line while experimenting on the grass in Sunday’s $100,000 Bull Page Stakes at Woodbine.

The Bull Page is one of two 7 1/2-furlong inner turf stakes on the card for Ontario-sired 2-year-olds, along with the $100,000 Victorian Queen for fillies. Both were previously contested over six furlongs on the Tapeta.

A stretch-runner trained by Robert Tiller, Dragon’s Brew won an open maiden special going six furlongs over Tapeta on Aug. 9. Three weeks later, he was bet down to 3-1 in the $250,800 Simcoe Stakes for graduates of local yearling sales, during which he rallied wide to win going away on Tapeta with his second straight Beyer Speed Figure in the mid-60s.

A son of stamina sire Milwaukee Brew, Dragon’s Brew is a half-brother to turf winner Dragon’s Cry, who won the Bull Page when it was a synthetic sprint.

“The mare’s had several horses who liked the grass, including Dragon’s Cry, who I trained,” Tiller said. “When you go two turns going 7 1/2, it’s a totally different race. It’s like going long. You’d think a Milwaukee Brew would go long. We’ve got to take a shot. He’s just a little guy, and he relaxes. The jock knows him. He’ll be where he wants him to be.”

Daisuke Fukumoto retains the mount on Dragon’s Brew for owner-breeder Goldmart Farms.

All Canadian and Exceed also are in the eight-horse field of colts and geldings.

After winning his debut, All Canadian had a troubled run in two subsequent stakes, finishing fifth in the Victoria and second in the Simcoe. Trained by Gail Cox, All Canadian is by leading Ontario freshman sire Reload, who was a Grade 3-winning miler on the grass.

Exceed graduated secondtime out on the Tapeta for trainer Ashlee Brnjas. He trailed a five-horse field most recently on the main turf in the 6 1/2-furlong Soaring Free Stakes, finishing 5 3/4 lengths behind victorious Gretzky the Great, who came back to take the Grade 1 Summer.

Sunsprite tops Victorian Queen

Sunsprite should be wellbacked in the Victorian Queen off a front-running debut victory in a six-furlong Ontario-sired maiden sprint on the Tapeta, for which she got a 70 Beyer. Kevin Attard trains the daughter of Reload.

Mum’s the Word was a distant but respectable fifth at first asking on the grass behind the promising Lady Speightspeare, who returned to double up in the Grade 1 Natalma.

Mum’s the Word came right back to win an open maiden special on the main turf with ease, earning a 58 Beyer in the one-mile route.

Silent Guroo and Silent But Violent finished first and third, respectively, in a seven-furlong maiden event on the grass Sept. 5.

Hatmaker Holiday, a secondout maiden winner on the Tapeta, is the other obvious protagonist in the eight-horse field.