Hunt Master earns first stakes victory with Overskate

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Hunt Master dug in gamely through the stretch to notch his first stakes under a shrewd ride from Jeffrey Alderson in Sunday’s $100,000 Overskate for Ontario-sired runners at Woodbine.

Alderson put Hunt Master on the point in the 7 1/2-furlong inner turf race as the favored Gulfstream shipper Awesome Bourbon took up the chase in second.

Awesome Bourbon drew alongside Hunt Master in the stretch, while Society’s Thunder rallied along the inside. Hunt Master prevailed by a neck over the latter, who finished another neck ahead of a hanging Awesome Bourbon.

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Over firm turf, the final time was 1:29.10.

“In his past races, he’s been forwardly placed,” Alderson said. “The plan was to get him out and slow the pace, if I could. He was going relaxed. I couldn’t ask for more than that. He definitely fought hard. I was grateful for that.”

Hunt Master ($13.90) earned $60,000 for Openwood Farm. The son of Hunters Bay was the second stakes winner in a week for trainer Angus Buntain, who captured last Sunday’s Frost King with Unbridled Weather.

“Talking with Jeffrey before the race, Awesome Bourbon obviously looked very fast,” Buntain said. “I just said to Jeffrey if you can get ahead of him, go for it. If he really wants the lead, then let him go and stalk him.

“I’m really proud of him. He always tries his heart out. A lot of the time, he just needs a decent course to run over to get his very best effort. Today, the course was to his liking and he ran terrific.”

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