Black Hornet buzzed to the lead and never looked back en route to a swift score in Sunday’s $150,000 Grade 3 Vigil Stakes, at Woodbine.

Trained by Pat Parente for owners Joey Gee Thoroughbreds and Aldo Ventresca, Black Hornet arrived at the seven furlong sprint from a fourth-place finish, while making his seasonal debut, in the Jacques Cartier Stakes won by Vigil rival Calgary Cat.

Black Hornet, with Luis Contreras up, zipped an opening quarter in :22.99 in the Vigil with Puntrooskie, third in the Jacques Cartier Stakes, settled just off his flank. Calgary Cat, sent to post as the 3-5 mutuel favourite, was off a step slow but improved up the rail into third position as Black Hornet took the field into the turn through a swift half in :44.71.

Advertisement