Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
WOODBINE Kingsport to return in 2019
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Whether it’s a sprint or a route, on turf or synthetic, it doesn’t seem to matter to Kingsport. The 6-year-old recorded his fourth stakes win in eight starts this season Sunday by taking the Sir Barton Stakes for the second year in a row at Woodbine.
“He’s a nice old horse,” trainer Sid Attard said. “I’ve never seen him better. It’s too bad the season is finished.”
Attard said Kingsport has already shipped out of Woodbine for a winter vacation on the farm. Assuming all goes well over the winter, Attard anticipates Kingsport will be back in training for a 7-year-old campaign.
“I think we’ll bring him back for another year,” he said. “He’s in good shape. He’s not sore.”
Kingsport began his 2018 season with two fourth-place finishes – first in an allowance race on May 5, and then in the Steady Growth Stakes on June 16. His first stakes win of the year came sprinting in the Shepperton Stakes on July 8, when he famously ended Pink Lloyd’s 11-race win streak. Kingsport followed that win with a victory Aug. 29 in the Elgin Stakes over 1 1/16 miles on Tapeta.
From there, Kingsport tried graded stakes company in the Grade 3 Bold Venture Stakes over 6 1/2 furlongs on Sept. 15, finishing sixth. Following his start in the Bold Venture, Kingsport moved over to the grass, where he won the Bunty Lawless Stakes on Oct. 8. After another sixth-place finish back on synthetic in the Overskate Stakes on Oct. 27, Kingsport finished his season on a high note with the repeat win in the Sir Barton.
Attard having strong finish
Trainer Kevin Attard is finishing his Woodbine season well, recording six wins and threee seconds from his last 24 starts, dating to Nov. 28. One of those victories came Sunday when Pumpkin Rumble won the Grade 3 Valedictory Stakes. Another Attard runner, Melmich, finished second, just a half-length behind.
“We’ve had a good November and December,” Attard said. “It’s nice to see everybody’s hard work come to hand and finish off strong. The staff puts in a lot of time. Hopefully, we’ll regroup for next spring.”
Only leading trainer Norm McKnight has more wins than either Sid or Kevin Attard going back to Nov. 28, as McKnight has won seven of his last 30 starts.
Kevin Attard said he would be sending around 10 runners to Florida for a winter campaign at Gulfstream Park. Multiple graded stakes winner Starship Jubilee has already made a start at Gulfstream, finishing fourth in the Claiming Crown Tiara Stakes on Dec. 1.
Pumpkin Rumble, meanwhile, recorded his first graded stakes win as well as the first for owners Al and Bill Ulwelling. Attard began training for the Ulwellings last season, and Pumpkin Rumble was one of the first horses that was sent to Attard to train. Attard said the partnership is growing, as he had up to eight horses for the Ulwellings at one point this season.
“I’m very happy for the owners – first graded win – and they’ve put a lot of confidence in me to give me a lot of their horses to train, and we appreciate that,” he said.
Ontario race dates approved
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario has approved Woodbine for a 133-day campaign next season, while Fort Erie will again run a 40-day meet in 2019.
The 2019 Woodbine meet will begin April 20, while opening day at Fort Erie is May 28.
Woodbine will run on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays for the majority of the season. Friday racing will kick off April 26, while Wednesday night racing will begin May 29. Woodbine will also run on four holiday Monday cards during the meet. Closing day is Dec. 15.
Fort Erie, meanwhile, will run Sundays and Tuesdays throughout the meet, with closing day Oct. 15.
The Woodbine meet will again be highlighted by the 169th running of the Queen’s Plate on June 29. The full Woodbine stakes schedule will be released in the new year. Reserved grandstand seating for the Queen’s Plate is now on sale.