Johnny Bear repeats in Northern Dancer Turf

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The local wonder Johnny Bear closed along the inside to capture the Grade 1 Northern Dancer Turf for the second year in a row under Luis Contreras.

Johnny Bear ($35.80) benefited from a hot pace in the 1 1/2-mile turf marathon. The favored Hawkbill was sent to the lead by Jamie Spencer, but was hounded all the way by Tiz a Slam.

Johnny Bear raced about five lengths off the lead in fifth on the backstretch, and then made up good ground in the lane to collar the leaders with a sixteenth left, scoring by a half-length over Mekhtaal in a time of 2:25.74.

“It was a perfect trip,” said Contreras. “I saved all the ground, so nice and relaxed behind the speed, and I was just waiting for my moment. Turning for home, my first thought was to go to the outside, but at the last second, I changed my mind and I didn’t see anybody coming on the rail. I saw the rail was a little bit open, and he just went through like a knife through butter.”

English Illusion, who had beaten Johnny Bear when they met in the Aug. 29 Halton Stakes, finished a length back in third, a nose in front of Markitoff. Hawkbill faded to finish eighth in the 10-horse field.

Trained by Ashlee Brnjas, Johnny Bear earned $216,000 of the $338,600 purse for the partnership of Colebrook Farm and Bear Stables.

“It’s unbelievable,” said owner John Burness. “He’s quite a horse. I wish I had a barn full of them.”

The Northern Dancer is a prep for the Grade 1 Canadian International here Oct. 13. Johnny Bear, by English Channel, finished far back in the 2017 International after struggling over the soft ground.