ETOBICOKE, Ontario – It’s been hard to get Kentucky bourbon in Ontario due to the current trade war between the United States and Canada. Those missing the popular whiskey could pad their bankroll with hunch play Awesome Bourbon in Sunday’s $100,000 Steady Growth Stakes, Woodbine’s closing-day feature. Trained by Abraham Katryan for owner Carlo D’Amato, the versatile Awesome Bourbon has yet to win a stakes, but he came close last out going six furlongs in the Grade 2 Kennedy Road. With Pietro Moran aboard for the first time, he was impeded late before finishing a close third, then was promoted to second by disqualification behind favored winner Nobals. “I liked him in the Kennedy Road, but I knew he just had to get the right trip,” Katryan said. “If he had clear room, I thought he would have gotten them.” Awesome Bourbon was surprisingly flat as the heavy favorite two races back in the 7 1/2-furlong Overskate Stakes over an inner turf labeled good. “He doesn’t like turf with any cut,” Katryan explained. “He’s a big, heavy horse. If he doesn’t get a bounce-back, he just labors.” :: Access the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances and Picks are available now. A son of Queen’s Plate winner Not Bourbon, Awesome Bourbon has never competed on Tapeta over the 1 1/16-mile distance of the Steady Growth. “I’ve done a few different things just to help him for the distance,” Katryan said. “He’s in good shape, and I think going long first time, he can be dangerous.” Completing the field of Ontario-sired runners are Rapid Test, Paramount Prince, Hunt Master, Souped Up, Jaggersgotagun, Lac Macaza, No More Options, and the supplement Cruden Bay. Rapid Test looks poised for a peak performance in his third start off an extended layoff. After ending up second to Awesome Bourbon in a Sept. 28 conditioned allowance, the closer won his last race in the Oct. 26 Overskate for Ontario-sired stock under Austin Adams. Trainer Catherine Day Phillips said Rapid Test is in fine form and can bolster his mediocre record at 1 1/16 miles. “He relaxes well and should stretch out, especially coming off a two-turn race,” Day Phillips said. “He trains like a good horse, and he’s fresh.” Paramount Prince, the 2023 King’s Plate victor and a two-time Canadian champion, has lost a step this year. After a pair of thirds in Grade 3 stakes in the summer, the 5-year-old set soft fractions on a golden rail when landing an Oct. 19 conditioned allowance. A need-the-lead type, he subsequently finished ninth in the Grade 3 Autumn and a chalky third in a conditioned allowance. Hunt Master could vie for the lead with Paramount Prince. He nearly won the Overskate for the second year in a row last out when a close second after establishing a slow pace. Successful sprinter Souped Up should be forwardly placed on the stretch-out in his third race off a sabbatical with leading rider Rafael Hernandez aboard. Post time for the 12-race card is 1:05 p.m. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.