McKnight off to quick start

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Norm McKnight won his first Woodbine training title in 2017, and picked up right where he left off during the opening weekend of the 2018 season, recording four wins from his first six starts.

“It wasn’t too bad,” McKnight said. “I was certainly surprised. The horses ran well and it went well. I couldn’t have asked for anything better.”

Among the opening weekend winners for McKnight was Inge, who was awarded the Wando Stakes by disqualification. Inge set the pace in the Wando, and McKnight said he was pleased with the way Inge held on to cross the line second behind Machtree.

“That concerned me when I saw the 47 half flash up, but the horse ran very, very game,” he said. “The horse that won the race was probably the better of the two horses, but I was kind of impressed with the way [Inge] just dug down and never quit. He just kept trying.”

McKnight said Inge would likely continue on the Queen’s Plate trail for owner Bruno Schickedanz, and his next start could either be in the Grade 3, $125,000 Marine Stakes on May 13 or the $125,000 Plate Trial Stakes on June 9.

“Ultimately, that will be up to Bruno,” McKnight said. “Right now, I think that’s what he’s thinking. We’ll go race to race and week to week and see how everything is progressing. He looks like he’s come out the race well.”