Mr Havercamp wins season debut in Steady Growth Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The favored Mr Havercamp overcame some obstacles to win the $100,800 Steady Growth Stakes going away under Eurico Da Silva at Woodbine Saturday.

Mr Havercamp ($5.10) closed five wide into contention on the far turn in the 1 1/16-mile route, and then hit the front inside the eighth pole en route to a 4 3/4-length score, in a time of 1:43.68.

Where’s the Widget outran another son of Giant Gizmo, Keen Gizmo, for second. Kingsport checked in fourth in the 10-horse field of Ontario-sired runners.

Trainer Catherine Day Phillips said Mr Havercamp had a setback in Florida over the winter that nearly forced her to bypass the race, and when the son of Court Vision entered the paddock, he blew a shoe.

“We weren’t planning on running here, but he came to hand really well in the past three weeks,” Day Phillips said. “He was ready to go, and this race was here, so we decided to run. He came into the paddock, and was happy to be back to the races. Literally, the first step he took was on top of his shoe, and pulled his shoe off. Luckily, we were able to get it back on. He stood very well for that. He’s just an amazing horse. I’m just so delighted and proud to be part of him.”

Mr Havercamp, who was a finalist for Canadian champion male 3-year-old honors last year, banked $60,000 for owners Sean and Dorothy Fitzhenry.