Woodbine: Wicked Django upsets Autumn for 1st stakes win

Wicked Django, under a sharp ride from Keveh Nicholls, earned his first stakes triumph in Saturday’s Grade 2 Autumn at Woodbine.

Sent on his way at 24-1 in the field of eight, the 4-year-old bay colt broke a step slowly while the quartet of Paramount Prince, Forever Souper, Stanley House and 2-1 choice Dresden Row all got away sharply with multiple graded-stakes winner and 2023 King’s Plate victor Paramount Prince leading the way into the first turn.

Paramount Prince was 1 1/2 lengths clear of Forever Souper, second in the betting at 3-1, through a brisk opening quarter in 23.60 seconds in the 1 1/8-mile main track event for 3-year-olds and up.

In front by a half-length after a half in 47.18 seconds, Paramount Prince picked up the pace as Forever Souper, a perfect three-for-three on the synthetic, Stanley House and multiple graded stakes winner Dresden Row, shadowed the leader as he started the turn for home.

Nicholls, meanwhile, had Wicked Django rolling five-wide late on the turn to take command in upper stretch.

A half-length clear at the stretch call, the Rodney Barrow trainee kept on for a 1 1/4-length win in a time of 1:48.45. Dresden Row was second, followed by Stanley House and Forever Souper.

It was a statement victory for Wicked Django, whose resume includes a third in the Dominion Day (G3), contested on June 29 and the Seagram Cup (G2) on July 27.

“He broke just a tad slow, and I let him relax back there,” said Nicholls. “I know they were going pretty solid up front, Paramount Prince and the others, and I just tried to make one steady run at them.”

The addition of blinkers played a big part in the winning performance.

“They really did (make a difference),” said Nicholls. “I worked him in the morning (with blinkers), and he really enjoyed it.”

It was the third lifetime win accompanied by a pair of seconds and four thirds from 12 starts for the son of Wicked Strong out of the Flatter mare Belcarres.

“We got him about a month ago,” said Barrow. “The owner asked me to train him, and I said, ‘OK.’ We thought the blinkers would help a lot.”

Owned by Ryan Brewster and bred in Ontario by Denny Andrews and Niall Brennan, Wicked Django paid $50.40 for the breakthrough score. Artie’s Storm, Sir London, War Bomber and Lac Macaza were scratched.