Velocitor crowned Mor Spirit’s first stakes winner in Coronation Futurity

Velocitor took the lead early and then led every step of the way in the $253,000 Coronation Futurity Sunday at Woodbine to become the first stakes winner for Mor Spirit.

Previously stakes-placed in the $150,000 Victoria S. in July, Velocitor is now 3-1-1 in five starts and has earned $224,190 for the owner/breeder duo of Al and Bill Ulwelling.

Velocitor, part of a full field of 14 2-year-olds in the 1 1/8-mile race, jumped quickly from the starting gate to take the lead going into the first turn. He relaxed nicely as he led the field through a half-mile in :50.56 and six furlongs in 1:15.36. He spurted away at the top of the stretch then dug in gamely in the final furlong to win by a neck in 1:52 on the Tapeta surface.

“I was looking at his form previous to the race and I know that he had natural speed sprinting,” said rider Justin Stein. “First time going two turns, I figured his best bet would be to try and get him to relax on the lead. He was very relaxed and travelling comfortably within himself. He looks to me like a router. He has that kind of physique.”

Velocitor is out of Polar Plunge, who was a four-time stakes winner in her own right.

Mor Spirit is a top-10 First-Crop sire by both winners and stakes horses. After breeding 134 mares in 2022, he’ll stand next year at Spendthrift for $5,000 live foal.