Wyatt's Town can win fourth straight in Ontario Jockey Club Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Wyatt’s Town seeks his fourth consecutive victory in Sunday’s feature at Woodbine, the $100,000 Ontario Jockey Club Stakes for 3-year-olds over six furlongs on Tapeta.

Wyatt’s Town was claimed by trainer Norm McKnight and owners Henley Thoroughbreds Ltd. and Newton Stables for $50,000 out of his maiden win at Churchill Downs on May 17. He paid immediate dividends for his new connections, winning back-to-back starts, including his Woodbine debut in the King Corrie Stakes on July 28.

“I was looking through the Form one day and came across this horse in for $50,000,” McKnight said following Wyatt Town’s victory in the King Corrie.

“I looked at his pedigree and, on paper, he just jumped out at me. I wasn’t there when we claimed him. My assistant down there was. He had a look at him and said the horse looked fine, and I said go ahead and drop the slip. It’s worked out really well.”

Wyatt’s Town defeated Hemp Hemp Hurray and Run Away in the King Corrie, and all three horses will run back in the Ontario Jockey Club. The field is rounded out by Captain Thunder and Driven by History, who was supplemented.

Key Contenders

Wyatt’s Town, by Speightstown
Last 3 Beyers: 91-91-80

◗ Wyatt’s Town set an uncontested pace in the King Corrie and held on in the late going. He should be on the lead again in the Ontario Jockey Club with leading rider Eurico Da Silva aboard.

◗ McKnight has already won a career-high five Woodbine stakes this season.

Hemp Hemp Hurray, by Artie Schiller
Last 3 Beyers: 88-86-81

◗ Following his trip to the Royal Ascot meeting in June to run in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes, Hemp Hemp Hurray returned to North America to run a closing second behind Wyatt’s Town in the King Corrie Stakes on July 28.

◗ He’s run well in both of his starts on synthetic surfaces, as he won the Animal Kingdom Stakes on the Polytrack at Turfway Park in March by 11 3/4 lengths with an 86 Beyer Speed Figure.

Run Away, by Run Away and Hide
Last 3 Beyers: 82-67-64

◗ In his first start under the care of trainer Josie Carroll he finished third behind Wyatt’s Town and Hemp Hemp Hurray in the King Corrie Stakes.

◗ He may be circling back to his strong 2-year-old form, when he was based in California with trainer Simon Callaghan. Run Away won four of his first five starts, including the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar last August.

Driven by History, by Two Step Salsa
Last 3 Beyers: 76-80-68

◗ He’s run second twice in four starts this season, all against allowance company on Tapeta at Presque Isle Downs.

◗ Trainer Teresa Connelly and jockey Pablo Morales combined to win the Victoria Stakes for 2-year-olds with another Presque Isle Downs shipper, Big Drink of Water, on July 14.

Captain Thunder, by Pioneerof the Nile
Beyer: 73

◗ Captain Thunder will make his second start in the Ontario Jockey Club after winning his maiden over seven furlongs on Tapeta on Aug. 4.

◗ He breezed a sharp four furlongs in 47.40 seconds on the main track here Aug. 25.