Wyatt's Town Scores in Ontario Jockey Club Stakes
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Photo: Michael Burns
Wyatt's Town (inside) holds on over Hemp Hemp Hurray to win the Ontario Jockey Club Stakes at Woodbine
Henley Thoroughbreds and Newtop Stables' Wyatt's Town persevered in a hard-fought stretch duel to extend his win streak to four Sept. 2 in the $100,000 Ontario Jockey Club Stakes for 3-year-olds over six furlongs at Woodbine.
The Norm McKnight trainee set early fractions of :22.52 and :45.05, with Hemp Hemp Hurray stalking throughout before that rival launched his attack in the stretch. The top pair battled head to head down the lane, with Wyatt's Town digging in to score by a neck in 1:09.52 and earn back-to-back stakes titles.
Once again, Eurico da Silva was aboard the son of Speightstown who had sprinted out to a quick four-length lead en route to victory in the King Corrie Stakes July 28 over the same distance at Woodbine.
"I know how fast this horse is, and I tried to relax as much as I could in the race," said da Silva. "He was running very, very relaxed. When we turned home, I thought it would be an easy game, but it was not. At the eighth pole, to be honest, it was not looking good for me. But you know what? He has a big heart. He fought very, very hard, and it was a beautiful race."
Wyatt's Town remained perfect in three starts since being claimed off a May 17 winning effort at Churchill Downs for $50,000 by his current owners.
"I was a little concerned about having too big of a workout before this race," said McKnight of his charge, who breezed four furlongs in :50 flat Aug. 22. "So I told (Eurico) to contain him early and let him punch that last eighth.
"Midstretch, I have to tell you, I thought we were in trouble, I thought we were collared," McKnight continued. "But he runs with a lot of grit, and he just dug in and gave it his all, and we held on."
Bred in Kentucky by Ashview Farm and Colts Neck Stables, Wyatt's Town is the first foal out of the Indian Charlie mare Natural Rush. The 3-year-old colt improved his record to 4-2-4 from 10 starts, with earnings of $205,438.