Late burst propels Kingport past Jacks Escarpment in Shepperton
Kingsport, with a late burst, nailed Jacks Escarpment in the final jump to win Saturday's $126,200 Shepperton Stakes, at Woodbine.
Trained by Sid Attard for Goldmart Farms and Royal Laser Racing LLC., the dark bay son of Milwaukee Brew arrived at the 6 1/2-furlong Tapeta sprint for Ontario-sired stock from a solid runner-up effort to a track-record setting (1:14.44, July 1) Noholdingback Bear.
Azimut was quickest from the gate in the Shepperton marking the opening quarter in :22.50 with Jacks Escarpment and Boreal Spirit keeping close watch. Jacks Escarpment pushed up along the rail and battled Azimut to the half-mile in :45.45, while Kingsport, with Patrick Husbands up, waited patiently in third position.
Azimut and Jacks Escarpment continued their duel to the top of the lane as Kingsport, Sweet Grass Creek and Goodoldhockeygame loomed a rallying presence. Jacks Escarpment was able to put Azimut away and looked to be a longshot 25-1 winner only for Kingsport, the even-money favourite, to find a late burst and secure a head victory. Jacks Escarpment held place by a neck over Sweet Grass Creek. Kingsport covered 6 1/2-furlongs in 1:16.57.
The victory marked the 10th stakes win of the meet for Husbands who worked until the very final stride to secure the win.
"There was a lot of speed in the race, but I just tried to keep him in the clear and ride him as the best horse," said Husbands. "It's very difficult to get him to switch his leads down the lane, but anytime you get him to switch, it's hard to beat him coming home.
“When we turned for home, he drifted off and I couldn't get him to switch,” continued Husbands. “So, I had to go with the flow and he just switched two jumps before the wire and as he switched, he just got there in time."
Attard, who was picking up his fourth added-money win of the season, was pleased with the effort of the versatile colt who won the Deputy Minister while sprinting and the Sir Barton routing as a juvenile. Kingsport also finished a strong second in a pair of turf stakes in 2015, when defeated a half-length in the Vice Regent and just a nose in the Bunty Lawless.
"It was very close," said Attard of the Shepperton score. "I was worried that 6 1/2-furlongs was a little too short for him, but he's a nice horse and he'll do whatever you ask him to do.
"He can do turf, main track, mile and a sixteenth, seven-eighths," continued Attard. "It doesn't matter; just put him in the gate."
Kingsport, bred in Ontario by Richard Moylan, banked $75,000 in victory while improving his record to 6-4-2 from 15 starts.
He paid $4.10, $3.30 and $2.60, combining with Jacks Escarpment ($16.60, $9.70) for a $66.30 (6-7) exactor. A 6-7-4 triactor (Sweet Grass Creek, $3.70 to show) was worth $342.20, while a $1 Superfecta [6-7-4-3 (Goodoldhockeygame)] came back $574.65.
Source: Woodbine Communications Office