Canada classic winners Velocitor, Touch'n Ride lead Ontario Derby

Canadian Triple Crown jewel winners Velocitor and Touch’n Ride are set to compete in the US$109,568, Grade 3 Ontario Derby on Saturday at Woodbine. The race for 3-year-olds is run at 1 1/8 miles on the Tapeta. Saturday’s contest has attracted a field of 10.

Kevin Attard trainee Velocitor will make his return to the track after winning the Prince of Wales Stakes, the second jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown at Fort Erie on Sept. 12.

“Velocitor has been doing well since his Prince of Wales win,” Attard said to Woodbine communications. “He’s had a few easy breezes since and has been feeling very good about himself.”

Owned by Al and Bill Ulwelling, Velocitor has a record of 10: 4-1-1. The son of Mor Spirit won the Coronation Futurity last November and ran fourth in the King’s Plate ahead of his Prince of Wales win.

Twin City, Cool Kiss, Stanley House and Twowaycrossing join Velocitor and Touch’n Ride as horses racing in Saturday’s Ontario Derby that competed in a leg of the Canadian Triple Crown. All six horses raced in two of the three legs of the Triple Crown.

Layne Giliforte trainee Touch’n Ride won the 1 1/2-mile Breeders’ Stakes over the outer turf course on Oct. 1. Twowaycrossing is the only other starter in Saturday’s Ontario Derby that ran in the Breeders’.

Attard is looking forward to sending Velocitor out in Saturday’s race against some familiar Canada-bred rivals plus new opponents, including the Mark Casse-trained fillies Forever Dixie and Solo Album.

“The cut back to nine furlongs should be to his liking. It’s a very competitive field and should set up to be an exciting horse race.”

With seasonal temperatures expected Saturday, Velocitor is a proven winner in cooler temperatures after winning last year’s Coronation Futurity.

“Definitely some horses enjoy the cooler weather, (Velocitor) obviously won in the fall as a juvenile, but at the same token I didn’t ever think that the heat was an issue for him in the summer months or effected his performance”, Attard said. “I think since gelding him he’s just gotten more focused and has steadily improved to get back to the type of horse we were hoping he would turn out to be.”

Justin Stein has the assignment again aboard Velocitor in the Ontario Derby. Stein and Attard are both seeking their first Ontario Derby victories.

The lightly raced Touch’n Ride enters with a record of 2-0-1 from 4 starts for owner and breeder Chiefswood Stables. Jockey Kazushi Kimura will once again ride and is seeking his fourth consecutive victory in the Ontario Derby.

Chiefswood last won the Ontario Derby with Tiz a Slam in 2017.

The Ontario Derby will be Saturday’s ninth race, with post time scheduled for 5:41 p.m. EDT.