Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk wins first stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk closed along the inside under jockey Dino Luciani to win his stakes debut Saturday in the $137,375 Woodstock, a six-furlong dash for 3-year-olds at Woodbine.

Imperial Alydeed, the 19-1 outsider in the five-horse field, led through fractions of 22.17 and 44.71 seconds while being stalked by Estevan and favored San Diego Blowout. Estevan hit the front exiting the turn, as Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk sought running room.

Luciani sent Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk up the rail in the stretch, and they edged by Estevan at the sixteenth pole en route to a three-quarters of a length victory. Estevan held second, while Imperial Alydeed out-finished San Diego Blowout for third. Night Sky was a late scratch. The final time was 1:09.64.

"I kept him in behind horses for as long as I could," said Luciani. "We've been teaching him to run on [at the] end, and that's what he's been doing."

Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk, now unbeaten in two starts for trainer Bob Tiller, earned $82,425 for owner Frank DiGiulio Jr.