Essence Hit Man successfully defended his Grade 3 $168,000 Bold Venture title with a familiar front-running performance in Woodbine’s Wednesday night feature.
Essence Hit Man, twice named Canada’s champion sprinter, came into the 6 1/2-furlong ‘Poly’ stake off a narrow 1/2-length defeat to Laugh Track in the Grade 3 Vigil Stakes. However, there would be no denying the Larry Cappuccitti trainee on this night as the five-year-old gelding stayed on gamely in the stretch to hold off a rallying Dimension.
Jesse Campbell sent Essence Hit Man to the lead right out of the gate with Paso Doble, Bear Tough Tiger and Dimension stalking his pace through a quarter in :22.21. Essence Hit Man led the field into the turn, marking a half-mile in a blistering :44.01, putting away all but Dimension who was angled off the rail and into contention by David Moran.