Slow start can't stop Olympic Runner in King Corrie Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Olympic Runner ($5.60) was slow out of the blocks in Sunday’s $105,200 King Corrie Stakes, but he got the job done impressively under a patient ride from Patrick Husbands.

The favored Chicago shipper Big Drink of Water led the way in the six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds while being hounded by Souper Success. After missing the break by about three lengths from the one-hole, Olympic Runner trailed along the inside on the turn.

Souper Success wore down Big Drink of Water in the stretch, before Olympic Runner came flying on the outside to blow by both of them at the sixteenth pole. Olympic Runner won going away by 2 1/2 lengths in a time of 1:09.66.

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Souper Success edged out Big Drink of Water for second. Corduroy Road trailed in a field reduced to four after the scratches of Hurricane Highway and Trappeze Artist.

Olympic Runner was unruly prior to winning his local debut here in allowance company last time out, and Husbands said the addition of ear plugs settled him down a little this time.

“Today, he was mellow, and a different racehorse,” Husbands said. “Down the back, I was getting a perfect trip. The [front-runners] were kicking along. He was enjoying himself. When I straightened up, he switched to his right lead, and showed me that I had a lot of horse under me, so I just hand-rode him down the lane.”

A son of Gio Ponti trained by Mark Casse, Olympic Runner earned $63,000 in his first stakes victory owner Gary Barber.