TORONTO, November 3, 2022 – Twin City, trained and co-owned by Stuart Simon, will take aim at top prize in the $250,000 Coronation Futurity, Sunday at Woodbine. The 1 1/8-mile Tapeta event for Canadian-foaled 2-year-olds is a significant race on the road to the 164th running of the Queen’s Plate, the first jewel of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. The Grade 2 $175,000 Autumn Stakes, for 3-year-olds and up, is also part of the 10-race card. Simon, in search of his first Futurity triumph, will send out Twin City, a bay son of Klimt-Minnie Apple Is. The bay, bred by Frank Di Giulio Jr., has one win and three seconds in four starts. The victory came in his most recent outing, a maiden special weight event at 1 1/16 miles over the Woodbine Tapeta. Under regular rider Gary Boulanger, Twin City tracked the pace, before he took the lead and held on to win by a neck in 1:45.50. Twin City and jockey Gary Boulanger winning a Maiden Special Weight race on October 13th 2022 at Woodbine (Michael Burns Photo) “He can be on or off the lead, a long way back, come between horses or go around… you can do whatever you want to do with him,” said Simon. “Whatever the situation dictates, he’s always up for the challenge. Last time, there was a horse going fast on the lead, and he tracked him and then took over the lead and shook off a couple of on-comers.” Prior to the maiden-breaking score, the gelding finished second in his debut, a 5 ½-panel sprint on the Toronto oval main track on July 17. On August 28, Twin City loaded into the gate for the Simcoe Stakes. A furious rally from well back resulted in a second-place finish, just a neck behind the winner. One race later, on September 18 in a 1 mile and 70-yard race on the Tapeta, he posted his third consecutive runner-up finish, only a head behind the winner. Simon, who co-owns with Brent, Russel and Roy McLellan, prefers to see the glass as half full when it comes to the narrow losses. “He’s just really genuine and really smart,” praised the multiple graded stakes winning conditioner who has 854 career wins. “He’s been a really nice, consistent horse. We’ve been very happy with all of his starts. Last time, it was nice to see him get rewarded. He does everything right.” Twin City is coming to the final race of his first-year campaign in good order. “He’s doing really well. Win, lose or draw, this is it for him. We’re going to give a nice couple of months off in Ocala. He’s shown no effects running four times as a 2-year-old. He’s very sound, very happy and seems to be doing really well. He deserves that nice vacation in Florida and then we’ll start training for what could be an exciting and promising 3-year-old season.” Other Coronation Futurity starters include trainer Kevin Attard’s fivesome of Dream Jereem, Lookinassah, Philip My Dear, Renegade Serenade, and Velocitor. Dual hall of fame trainer Mark Casse sends out the trio of Battle Strike, Gran Spirited, and Stayhonor Goodside. Conditioner Michael De Paulo will saddle Cool Kiss and J’adoro. Ayrshire Lad won the first running of the Coronation Futurity in 1902. The late Avelino Gomez won four straight (1964-67) editions of the race, a feat duplicated by Sandy Hawley (1973-76). The last horse to notch the Futurity-Plate double was Norcliffe in 1975-76. First post time is 1:20 p.m. Fans can also watch and wager on all the action via HPIbet.com and the Dark Horse Bets app. $250,000 CORONATION FUTURITY Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer 1 – Dream Jereem – Slade Jones – Kevin Attard 2 – Twin City – Gary Boulanger – Stuart Simon 3 – Stayhonor Goodside – Eswan Flores – Mark Casse 4 – J’adoro – Leo Salles – Michael De Paulo 5 – Renegade Serenade – Jose Campos – Kevin Attard 6 – Cool Kiss – Sahin Civaci – Michael De Paulo 7 – Twowaycrossing – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Roger Attfield 8 – Lookinassah – Luis Contreras – Kevin Attard 9 – Sammy Stone – Patrick Husbands – Catherine Day Phillips 10 – Gran Spirited – Declan Carroll – Mark Casse 11 – Velocitor – Justin Stein – Kevin Attard 12 – Battle Strike – Rafael Hernandez – Mark Casse 13 – Philip My Dear – Kazushi Kimura – Kevin Attard 14 – Opposites Attract – David Moran – Michael Trombetta (AE) 15 – Greystone – David Moran – Breeda Hayes Chris Lomon, Woodbine Communications / @WoodbineComms Share This:Share
