Kaigun tops Play the King Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The Mark Casse-trained runners Kaigun and Lockout ran one-two in Sunday’s Grade 2, $224,800 Play the King Stakes, an important prep for the next month’s Grade 1 Woodbine Mile.

The longshots Global Power and Sharp Sensation hooked up during quick fractions of 21.98 seconds and 44.59 in the seven-furlong turf sprint, while Something Extra stalked them in third.

Kaigan and Lockout saved ground on the turn while far back before they both mounted a wide rally in the stretch, and Kaigun prevailed by three-quarters of a length, in 1:20.71 over the firm ground.

Dimension overcame a slow start to grab third over a weakening Something Extra. Winning Prize, the 2-1 favorite from California, wound up sixth in the 10-horse field.

Kaigun ($9.80) got a confident ride from Patrick Husbands.

“I tried to ride a smart race and save some ground,” Husbands said. “Looking at the form, there was a lot of speed. It worked out perfect.”

Kaigun earned $144,000 in his first stakes victory for the partnership of Gary Barber, Quintessential Racing Florida LLC, and Horse’n Around Racing Stable.