Kingsport by a neck in Steady Growth Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Kingsport ($3.70) wore down the leaders in the stretch to capture Saturday’s $100,000 Steady Growth Stakes under Patrick Husbands at Woodbine.

Kingsport bided his time in fourth, about seven lengths in arrears, on the backstretch in the 1 1/16-mile route as the trio of Thor’s Rocket, Cooler Mike, and Nipigon battled through honest fractions. Kingsport began to mount a wide rally entering the stretch, while a three-wide Cooler Mike assumed command, and Kingsport caught Cooler Mike on the line to prevail by a neck in 1:43.35.

Thor’s Rocket edged out Nipigon for third, and Argentium trailed the five-horse field of Ontario-sired runners.

“He left there sharp, as usual,” Husbands said. “He relaxed going into the first turn. I was just smiling, seeing the three of them go head-and-head. I got a perfect trip. When we reached the three-eighths pole, I said, ‘Let’s go boy,’ and he jumped on the bridle. It was just a matter of time.”

A 7-year-old by Milwaukee Brew, the Sid Attard-trained Kingsport collected $60,000 in his season debut for the partnership of Royal Laser Racing and Goldmart Farms.