Hollywood Hit hangs on to win King Corrie

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Hollywood Hit ($3) gamely held off a rallying Tend to take the $100,400 King Corrie Stakes on Wednesday night at Woodbine.

Essence Hit Man broke on top in the six-furlong dash, and led through a sizzling quarter in 21.59 seconds, with Hollywood Hit pressing him along the inside. Essence Hit Man opened up a clear lead at the three-eighths pole, and got the half-mile in 44.35.

Jim McAleney angled Hollywood Hit outside the leader midway on the turn, and they took control in the stretch en route to a half-length score over Tend, in a relatively slow time of 1:10.23. Essence Hit Man faded to third, and Clarkstoncharm trailed in a field that was reduced to four with the scratch of Sports Select.

“He had to be a good horse to win today,” said McAleney. “It was almost like a tag team. There was early speed, and a late kick. It was nice that he was able to come off the inside, and get a bit of a breather around the turn. That helped him a lot, and he fought off that horse in deep stretch.”

Hollywood Hit banked $60,000 for owner Peter Redekop B.C. Ltd and trainer Terry Jordan.

Hollywood Hit finished first in a track-record clocking in last year’s King Corrie, but subsequently lost both the purse money and the track record because of a positive drug test.