Woodbine: Canadian champion Fifty Proof triumphant in Sir Barton return

Michael Burns

Fifty Proof, ridden by Justin Stein, wins his first race following 16 months on the sidelines in the Sir Barton.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Canadian champion Fifty Proof made a triumphant return to the races from a 16-month layoff Sunday at Woodbine, winning the $126,600 Sir Barton Stakes in front-running style under Justin Stein.

Trained by Ian Black, Fifty Proof set fractions of 24.39 and 48.38 seconds in the 1 1/16-mile event for Ontario-sired stock. He opened up a comfortable lead early in the stretch, before coasting home on top by a1 ¼ lengths, in 1:43.46. Bobcaygeon finished third in the 12-horse field.

Fifty Proof, last year’s champion older runner in Canada, returned $5.50 as the favorite and banked $75,000 for the partnership of Kinghaven Farm, John Fielding, and Ben Hutzel.

* Pyrite Mountain ($6) nosed out the leading Power Phil after a stirring  stretch duel to win his maiden in style in the  $125,000 Kingarvie Stakes.

With Patrick Husbands up, Pyrite Mountain went five-wide on the first turn in the 1 1/16-mile  route. He subsequently tracked Power Phil, and went on to prevail in a head-bob, in 1:45.46.  Jade Dragon was another four lengths back in third in the eight-horse field of Ontario-sired 2-year-olds.

Mark Frostad trains Pyrite Mountain for the Awesome Again Racing Limited Partnership.

“We got hung out pretty wide on the first turn,” said Frostad.”We lost a lot of lengths, and I thought that was coming back to haunt us, but fortunately, Patrick prevailed and the horse ran a game race.”