King and His Court regains good form in Wando Stakes
ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Reigning Canadian champion male 2-year-old King and His Court made a triumphant return to Woodbine in Sunday’s $119,600 Wando Stakes, winning the Queen’s Plate prep with an eye-catching stretch run under Gary Boulanger.
Tiz a Slam, the 3-5 favorite in the six-horse field, mounted a wide bid from third to finish a length back in second, as a stalking Megagray weakened to third. Kentucky shipper Montu faded to fifth after setting slow fractions in the 1 1/16-mile route.
King and His Court ($11.70) was exiting back-to-back dull efforts in stakes in the United States. He appears to have an affinity for Tapeta, the surface where he won the Coronation Futurity and Display Stakes last fall.
“He showed up today like his old self,” said Boulanger. “He hadn’t been running out of the gate very well, but he broke good with some intention on his mind. When I was as close as I was at the three-quarter pole, I knew we weren’t going that fast. He was kind of on the bridle, and he’s never really been that way. I was biding my time, waiting for what spot to take. When the rail opened up, I just gave him a little smidge, and he just jumped on the bridle and ran home pretty hard.”
A Court Vision gelding trained by Mark Casse, King and His Court collected $72,000 for owners Gary Barber and Wachtel Stable.