Kingsport, who won the $125,000 Sir Barton Stakes two years ago, swept by his rivals in the stretch to claim the 2017 edition of the stakes event for Ontario-sired horses Dec. 2 at Woodbine.
Trained by Sid Attard for Goldmart Farms and Royal Laser Racing Inc., Kingsport earned his first win of the season and seventh victory from 23 starts. He increased his earnings to $498,888.
Kingsport raced mid-pack inside and was not involved in an accident that occurred in the final turn of the afternoon's eighth race. Jockey Jesse Campbell sent the five-year-old Milwaukee Brew gelding outside into the stretch and he stormed home a 2-1/2 length winner in 1:43.23 for 1 1/16 miles ahead of 2-5 favorite Mr Havercamp. Sent postward at odds of 7-1, Kingsport returned $16.80 to win.
The stewards upheld a claim of foul lodged by jockey Alan Garcia against Mr Havercamp and jockey Eurico Rosa da Silva for causing interference to Spirit of Caledon on the final turn and the favorite was disqualified and placed seventh. Roxy's Vision inherited second place, and Ratface Macdougall was bumped up to third.
Conquest Cavalry, with Rafael Hernandez aboard, fell in the final turn and Freitag, with Luis Contreras, was unable to avoid him. Freitag was vanned home after the accident. Conquest Cavalry was euthanized.
Hernandez returned to action and won the afternoon's 10th race finale with the Mark Casse-trained Edisto Island. Contreras, who won the $100,000 Display Stakes earlier in the day with Admiralty Pier for trainer Barbara Minshall, was cleared by EMS and headed home.
Kingsport was bred by Richard Moylan out of the Green Dancer mare Green Jewel. He went through the ring for $45,000 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales June 2014 2-year-olds and horses of racing age sale, when consigned by RiceHorse Stables. Agent Brandon Rice signed the ticket. He initially was a $9,482 RNA at the 2013 Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society Canadian-bred yearling sale.
His other stakes wins at Woodbine include the 2014 Kingarvie Stakes, the 2015 Deputy Minister Stakes, and the 2016 Shepperton Stakes.
