He’s already recorded a hat trick in one added-money event, but on Saturday at Woodbine, Kingsport will look to add a ($100,000) Steady Growth Stakes score to his impressive list of victories.
A three-time winner of the Sir Barton Stakes (2015, 2017 and 2018), Kingsport, a son of Milwaukee Brew-Green Jewel, sports a record of 11-7-3 from 31 starts for owners Goldmart Farms and Royal Laser Racing.
Trained by Sid Attard, the seven-year-old gets his third shot at netting a Steady Growth score. In 2016, Kingsport finished fifth. Last year, he was fourth in the 1 1/16-mile main track event, an Ontario Sired Stakes for three-year-olds and upward.
“He had a great winter,” said Attard. “He was at Goldmart Farms. He looks great, very strong, and he’s had some strong works heading into the race.”
After a three-furlong breeze over the Toronto oval Tapeta on April 15, Kingsport has had a handful of five-furlong breezes, starting on May 6.
Attard is pleased with how the dark bay is heading into the Steady Growth.
“I’ve been very happy with how he’s been doing coming into his first start of the year,” said the veteran conditioner. “He’s always been a very good horse, just very honest and hard-trying.”
Kingsport’s rookie 2014 season yielded a pair of wins from four starts, including an 11-1 upset in the Kingarvie Stakes on December 6. The gelding, bred in Ontario by Richard Moylan, covered the 1 1/16-miles in 1:46.32, winning by 3 ¾ lengths.
Since then, he’s won the Deputy Minister, Bunty Lawless, Elgin, a pair of Sheppertons and the three Sir Bartons.
It’s no surprise that Kingsport is a favourite of Attard’s.
“He’s just a very special horse. We knew early on that he was going to be a good horse and that’s what he is. Every time you send him out, you know that he is going to give you his best.”
Attard expects no different this Saturday.
“He’s been very, very consistent over the years. He’s been a dream to train.”
It was a sentiment the trainer shared after Kingsport’s head triumph in the 2016 Shepperton.
“He can do turf, main track, mile and a sixteenth, seven-eighths,” said Attard. “It doesn’t matter; just put him in the gate.”
Last year, Sean and Dorothy Fitzhenry’s Mr Havercamp took the Steady Growth, paying $5.10 for the win.
The Steady Growth is Race 3 on Saturday’s 11-race card. First post time is 1:05 p.m.
Fans can also watch and wager on all the action via HPIbet.com.
FIELD FOR THE $100,000 STEADY GROWTH
POST – HORSE – JOCKEY – TRAINER
1 – Thor’s Rocket – Justin Stein – Paul Buttigieg
2 – Kingsport – Patrick Husbands – Sid Attard
3 – Nipigon – Steven Bahen – Rachel Halden
4 – Cooler Mike – Jesse Campbell – Nick Nosowenko
5 – Argentium – Daisuke Fukumoto – Judith Pottins
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