Hawkbill seeking revenge

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Johnny Bear nailed the heavily favored Hawkbill on the wire to win last year’s Grade 1, $300,000 Northern Dancer Turf Stakes, and the pair will hook up once again on Saturday in this year’s edition of the 1 1/2-mile race for 3-year-olds and upward on the Woodbine turf course.

Following last year’s Northern Dancer disappointment as the 3-5 favorite, Hawkbill recorded back-to-back victories in Dubai, including a three-length victory in the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan on March 31.

Hawkbill has continued racing in Group 1 events in England over the summer for trainer Charlie Appleby, finishing third in the Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes at the Royal Ascot meeting on June 20. He comes into the Northern Dancer off a fourth-place finish in the Group 1 Eclipse at Sandown Park on July 7.

“He’s getting older, but he will try,” said traveling head lass Sophie Chretien. “He always puts his heart into it. Hopefully he can have a little revenge on last year when he got beat by next to nothing at the post.”

KEY CONTENDERS

Hawkbill, by Kitten’s Joy Last 3 Beyers: NA-NA-NA

◗ Chretien said Hawkbill appeared to sustain a minor injury in last year’s Northern Dancer. “He came out of the race with a little bit of a dodgy leg,” Chretien said. “The turf was very hard. Hopefully, this year there’s a bit of give to it.”

Utmost, by Giant’s Causeway Last 3 Beyers 97-90-NA

◗ In his second start in North America, Utmost stalked leading local older male Tiz a Slam before taking control in the stretch to win the Grade 2 Sky Classic Stakes here on Aug. 19.

◗ He earned a 90 Beyer Speed Figure when third in the 1 1/2-mile Cape Henlopen Stakes on July 7 at Delaware Park. He is trained by Graham Motion.

Tiz a Slam, by Tiznow Last 3 Beyers: 95-96-97

◗ Had a two-race win streak snapped by Utmost in the Grade 2 Sky Classic Stakes.

◗ He posted a gate-to-wire score in the Grade 2 Nijinsky Stakes at this distance two starts back on July 22.

Johnny Bear, by English Channel Last 3 Beyers: 95-95-88

◗ He has a second and a third from four starts this year.

◗ Forced to steady in the stretch when second in the restricted Halton Stakes at this distance on Aug. 29.

Patterson Cross, by Arch Last 3 Beyers: 98-99-91

◗ He was closing well in the 1 5/8-mile Johns Call Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 22, but was checked in the late going. He crossed the line fourth but was placed third through disqualification.

◗ He’ll be looking for his first graded stakes win in the Northern Dancer, but has been within a length of victory in graded company three times.