Kingsport ready to fire fresh in Steady Growth
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Kingsport capped off his 2015 campaign by beating older horses in the Sir Barton Stakes last November and will look to make it two in a row in Monday’s $125,000 Steady Growth Stakes for Ontario-sired 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/16 miles on Woodbine’s Tapeta track.
Kingsport captured two stakes as a 3-year-old last season, the Sir Barton and the Bunty Lawless Stakes on turf last July. Trainer Sid Attard said Kingsport is looking good for his 4-year-old debut.
“It looks like he’s training better this year,” Attard said. “He’s looking really good, and he’s feeling really good. He’s been training beautifully.”
Kingsport has been working quickly ahead of the Steady Growth but covered five furlongs in a slow 1:05.00 in his latest work Tuesday. Attard said he wanted Kingsport to have an easy breeze ahead of the race but had no concerns over the slower time.
“If you let him, he’ll go 58 or 59 and change like it’s nothing,” Attard said. “I didn’t want to work him that fast, so I told the rider to go 1:01. He went 1:05, but it happens. I took him out the next day for a two-minute lick, and he was fine.”
Steady Growth, Race 8
Key Contenders
Kingsport, by Milwaukee Brew
Last 3 Beyers: 89-87-80
◗ Patrick Husbands has the mount. Attard said Husbands has been working Kingsport in the mornings and has provided positive feedback.
“Patrick has worked him three or four times,” Attard said. “Every time he’s worked him, he’s come back really happy and has told me he’s in great shape.”
Where’s the Widget, by Giant Gizmo
Last 3 Beyers: 94-89-95
◗ He’s the likely front-runner in this event and comes into the race on a three-race win streak after beating several other Steady Growth entrants in an allowance race over seven furlongs May 1.
◗ His two wins to close out last season were both around two turns.
Freitag, by Giant Gizmo
Last 3 Beyers: 94-93-85
◗ He ran second to Where’s the Widget on May 1 and should appreciate the stretch-out in distance.
◗ He spent most of last season running against open allowance company, finishing second in consecutive starts to close out his 2015 campaign.
Keen Gizmo, by Giant Gizmo
Last 3 Beyers: 83-84-91
◗ Keen Gizmo crossed the line third in this event last year but was placed second after Asserting Bear was disqualified and placed fourth.
◗ He could prove to be a pace threat to Where’s the Widget in his 5-year-old debut.