Kingsport, under a perfect trip from Patrick Husbands, defeated older company in Wednesday night’s $125,000 Sir Barton Stakes, at Woodbine.
Trained by Sid Attard for Goldmart Farms and Royal Laser Racing Inc., three-year-old colt Kingsport pressed the early speed of Clarkston Hope and waited until the final turn for the cue from Husbands to reel in the pacesetter and surge to a length victory.
Five-year-old mare Strut the Course, sent to post as the 3-5 mutuel favourite on the back of Grade 2 wins on the grass in the Dance Smartly and Canadian Stakes, failed to fire finishing fifth.
Kingsport, a dark bay son of Milwaukee Brew-Green Jewel, won twice as a juvenile including a victory when routing in the Kingarvie Stakes. After a pair of narrow defeats to start his sophomore season, Kingsport stepped up with a 2 3/4-length win in the seven furlong Deputy Minister Stakes.
Following a brief freshening, Kingsport then finished second to Sir Barton rival Born in a Breeze in the Vice Regent Stakes, a one-mile turf tilt, before an uncharacteristic flat effort when sixth in the Overskate Stakes.
Kingsport arrived at Wednesday night’s 1 1/16-mile ‘Poly’ route for Ontario-sired stock from a narrow nose loss to Sir Barton rival Seen It All Before in the grassy Bunty Lawless Stakes.
Clarkston Hope set splits of :24.50 and :49.36 in the Sir Barton with Kingsport and Keen Gizmo keeping close watch. Born in a Breeze, who stumbled out of the gate, raced from last in a field of seven to the final turn. Kingsport, with Keen Gizmo in tow, advanced willingly through the final turn and sprinted away to a comfortable score, stopping the clock in 1:43.14. Born in a Breeze rallied wide down the lane, overcoming the poor beginning, to finish second. Chris’ Brew won a photo for show over Seen It All Before.
“He’s not going to do it on his own, he’s going to make you do it,” said Husbands of the young and learning Kingsport. “The first 100 yards out of the gate, I put him over to his right lead. By the three-quarter pole down the backside he would not go to his right lead. I had to fight him over. He’s a very lazy horse.”
Husbands believes that Keen Gizmo, who rallied through the turn with Kingsport, helped fire up Kingsport for the stretch run.
“I was getting a nice trip,” said Husbands. “The other horse (Keen Gizmo) really pushed him along and made him aggressive.”
Kingsport banked $75,000 in victory while improving his record to 5-3-2 from 12 starts.
He paid $12.60, $5.60 and $3.90, combining with Born in a Breeze ($6.40, $4.10) for a $59.80 (7-6) exactor. A 7-6-2 triactor (Chris’ Brew, $7.20 to show) was worth $337.50, while a $1 Superfecta [7-6-2-1 (Seen It All Before)] came back $819.15. Freitag was scratched.
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