Coltimus Prime Versus Ami's Holiday Again

Coltimus Prime and Ami's Holiday, two of the best 3-year-olds in Canada this year, square off again in the $150,000 Ontario Derby (Can-III) at Woodbine Sunday, Sept. 21.

The 1 1/8-mile test for 3-year-olds over the all-weather surface is the ninth race and has an approximate post time of 5:07 p.m. (EDT).

The rivalry between Coltimus Prime and Ami's Holiday began with the 2013 Display Stakes at Woodbine in December, won by Jose Sea View. Coltimus Prime, a son of Milwaukee Brew   trained by Justin Nixon for Cabernet Racing Stables, led most of the way in the Display before giving way late to finish second, followed by Ivan Dalos' Ami's Holiday, the Josie Carroll-trained son of Harlan's Holiday who races from well off the pace.

Most recently, the two met in the Queen's Plate, Canada's most prestigious race for 3-year-olds, and the Prince of Wales Stakes, the respective first and second legs of the Canadian Triple Crown.

In the July 6 Queen's Plate, Ami's Holiday broke from the outside 15 post and was in tight quarters at the head of the stretch before finishing a game second, 1 1/2 lengths behind winning filly Lexie Lou.

Coltimus Prime broke from the 2 post in the Queen's Plate and was forwardly placed through a swift three-quarters in 1:11.54 before fading to ninth.

The two colts returned in the July 29 Prince of Wales on dirt at Fort Erie, with Coltimus Prime going wire to wire to win by 3 1/2 lengths. Ami's Holiday, the 8-5 favorite, raced in sixth and then fifth early on before getting up for third.



Jose Sea View, a Kentucky-bred gelding by Badge of Silver  , is seeking his first win since the Display in the Ontario Derby. Trained by Reade Baker for his breeder, Brereton C. Jones, Jose Sea View has placed second, third, and fourth in three stakes, and third in allowance-optional claiming company since the Display triumph.