Norfolk Knight victorious in Durham Cup

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Norfolk Knight held off 2-5 favorite Mobil in the stretch for a neck victory in Saturday's Grade 3, $159,450 at Woodbine.

Norfolk Knight led throughout the nine-furlong contest, setting honest fractions of :23.74, :47.29 and 1:11.44 seconds under apprentice Jill Scharfstein.

Mobil, the 126-pound highweight, and Sky Diamond loomed into contention heading into the far turn. Mobil took dead aim at Norfolk Knight in the final furlong, but the latter held his ground and prevailed in a final time of 1:51.56 seconds. There was an 11 and three-quarter length gap back to Sky Diamond, the third-place finisher in the five-horse field.

"We had a perfect trip," said Scharfstein, who was riding without her apprentice allowance. "He relaxed once he cleared the other horses, and had a lot left down the lane."

Norfolk Knight ($13.90) earned $95,670 in his second stakes tally for owner Margaret Squires and trainer Hugo Dittfach.