Yorkton leads all the way in King Corrie Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Yorkton ran them off their feet in Monday’s $113,200 King Corrie Stakes at Woodbine, leading all the way while leaving 1-2 favorite Circle of Friends and three other 3-year-olds in his wake.

Yorkton set wind-aided fractions of 22.20 and 44.36 in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint. He began to draw away in the stretch, and got home on top by 4 1/2 lengths in a quick final time of 1:15.24.

Bet On Mike nosed out Bugle Barry for second. Circle of Friends circled wide on the turn from last before tiring in the lane to finish another three-quarters of a length back in fourth. Uncle B trailed after pressing the early pace.

In a race with no show wagering, Yorkton returned $8.20. Jesse Campbell rode the son of Speightstown, who banked $72,000 for Chiefswood Stable and trainer Stuart Simon.

“He felt great,” Campbell said. “He broke clean, and was relaxed down the backside. I was hoping he wasn’t going to be a little rank, and he wasn’t. He was very well behaved, and he ran huge.”

Simon said he was content to see Yorkton rebound from a 27-length loss in a stakes at Arlington, during which he stumbled badly at the break.

“I’m really happy for the horse,” Simon said. “He’s such a nice horse. People are just beginning to know the real Yorkton, and they’re going to see down the line what a nice horse he really is.”