Thor's Rocket eyes stakes double in Sir Barton

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Thor’s Rocket recorded his first win of the season in the Overskate Stakes on Oct. 27 and will look to double up in Sunday’s $100,000 Sir Barton Stakes for Ontario-sired 3-year-olds and upward over 1 1/16 miles at Woodbine.

Prior to his start in the Overskate, Thor’s Rocket had finished no worse than fourth in six starts this year. Trainer Paul Buttigieg said Thor’s Rocket is in good order ahead of the Sir Barton.

“He’s doing good, very good right now,” he said. “He’s coming into this very well. The last race, there was a lot of speed in it and that helped us. He came from last to win it. I was very happy with how he came running.”

Thor’s Rocket has recorded three works since his Overskate victory. He’ll stretch out around two turns for the first time since running third to Kingsport in the Elgin Stakes on Aug. 29. He most recently covered five furlongs in 1:01.60 on the Tapeta on Nov. 24.

“I think he has a great shot to win this one, too,” said Buttigieg, who won his first Woodbine stakes race of the season in the Overskate. “He’s a very nice horse to have in your barn. He’s a quiet horse and very good to work around. He’s very consistent and he’s a very nice horse.”

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KEY CONTENDERS

Thor’s Rocket, by Old Forester
Last 3 Beyers: 91-94-88

◗ The win in the Overskate was Thor’s Rocket’s second stakes victory after he captured the Vice Regent Stakes on turf in 2016. He’s won back-to-back starts twice in his career.

◗ Thor’s Rocket ran ninth in this event back in 2016.

Kingsport, by Milwaukee Brew
Last 3 Beyers: 85-95-83

◗ He’ll seek his fourth stakes win of the year in the Sir Barton, a race he won last year. He upset Pink Lloyd in the Shepperton Stakes in July, won the Elgin Stakes in August, and won the Bunty Lawless Stakes on turf in October.

◗ Jockey Jesse Campbell, who rode him in last year’s Sir Barton, is back in the saddle on Sunday. He replaces regular rider Patrick Husbands, who is out for the season with an injury.

Silent Poet, by Silent Name
Last 3 Beyers:89-79-84

◗ He’ll stretch out around two turns for the first time since finishing 12th in the Queen’s Plate in June.

◗ After winning the Vice Regent Stakes on turf two starts back on Sept. 16, he finished a close third to Thor’s Rocket in the Overskate Stakes over seven furlongs on Tapeta on Oct. 27.

King and His Court, by Court Vision
Last 3 Beyers: 79-86-86

◗ He was among the top early contenders for the 2017 Queen’s Plate and will be looking for his first win since capturing the Wando Stakes in May of that year.

◗ He’s competed against open allowance company throughout much of the season, with the exception of a third-place finish in the restricted Halton Stakes over 1 1/2 miles on turf on Aug. 29.