Woodbine: Bear No Joke up in time to upset Kennedy Road Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Bear No Joke upset a top-notch field in Saturday’s $177,000 Kennedy Road Stakes, winning the Grade 2 sprint with determination under Emma-Jayne Wilson.

Essence Hit Man, a two-time Canadian champion sprinter, set splits of 22.08 and 44.15 seconds, with a host of contenders in close proximity, including Bear No Joke, who saved ground on the turn. Bear No Joke was angled wide for the drive, and then gradually wore down Essence Hit Man en route to a half-length score, in 1:08.63 for the six furlongs.

Essence Hit Man wound up second by a head over the wide/closing even-money favorite, Phil’s Dream. Completing the order of finish were Go Blue Or Go Home, Admiral Perry, Bear Tough Tiger, Summer Breezing, and Fatal Bullet.

Bear No Joke ($37.30) collected $108,000 for Bear Stable and trainer Reade Baker.

“He’s a gutsy horse,” said Wilson. “His last few works, he telegraphed that he was primed for a key effort, and he showed up today.”