Gas Me Up Fires Fresh in King Edward

TORONTO, August 15, 2026 – Gas Me Up, was up late in a dramatic photo finish, to double up and repeat in the $200,000 (G2) bet365 King Edward Stakes at Woodbine. ​ ​

Canada’s reigning Male Turf Champion, trained by Kevin Attard, won the 2025 King Eddie by 3/4 of a length last summer, en route to being named Canada’s champion in his respective division. ​ ​

In the 2026 edition, Gas Me Up, as he’s done before, was again returning from an extended layoff, but Attard had the dark bay/brown gelding perfectly prepared to score in his triumphant return to Woodbine. ​ ​

Ridden by Fraser Aebly, the 6-year-old Gas Me Up (Hard Spun – Chic Thrill, by Smart Strike), broke slightly outward from post position 3 and was 4th first time under the finish line, in the one mile inner turf test for three-year-olds and up.

John Velazquez, fresh off his stunning win aboard Luster in the 167th King’s Plate, guided Piper’s Factor to the lead through an opening quarter mile in :23.00. And that pair continued to carve out front end fractions through a half mile in :46.50. Gas Me Up, 3rd into the turn, took over sole possession of 2nd as the field of 6 covered the opening 6 furlongs in 1:10.50. ​ ​ ​

At the top of the lane, Irish Aces was winding up and dove inside for the drive, with Wyoming Bill looming as well. Inside the final sixteenth, a 3-horse thriller was developing with Irish Aces charging up the fence, Piper’s Factor right there between foes and Gas Me Up sustaining his run out widest. ​ ​ The trio landed on the wire in a blanket finish and after a lengthy review by the judges, Gas Me Up was deemed the victor by a nose over Piper’s Factor, who edged Irish Aces, also by a nose. The final running time on the inner course, listed as ‘firm’ was 1:35.44. ​

Despite the narrowest of winning margins, Aebly was asked point blank post-race if he thought he had won. ​

“Yeah I did,” laughed Aebly, who scored in his only previous spin aboard Gas Me Up when they teamed up to win a 6-furlong allowance race last August. ​ Gas Me Up encored next out in the King Edward roaring from off the pace to win with Flavien Prat.

“He’s a big strong horse, he gives you everything he’s got every single time. And he showed that today,” said Aebly. ​ ​

In 2025, Gas Me Up also competed in the Grade 1 Breeders Cup Mile at Del Mar, finishing 7th. ​ ​ Originally trained by California-based Peter Eurton, Gas Me Up returned to Eurton for a winter campaign, where he scored a 13-1 upset in the Grade 2 Joe Hernandez Stakes at Santa Anita. ​ ​

“This is a real cool horse,” said Attard, who was asked if he had to sweat out the photo finish. ​

“Wasn’t sure at first, but he picked the right time to be in front that’s for sure.” ​

“Obviously he had a great winter in California this year. ​ Happy to get him back. He had a little bit of refreshing after that.

“The owners have really done well by him and the horse has obviously rewarded them really well.” ​ ​

After returning to Woodbine, Attard trained him steadily for his King Edward

defense, which included several works on the synthetic main track, one on the local training turf and one on the dirt training track, a 4-furlong bullet on July 26th in :47.60, best of 23 that morning. Earlier in the week, Attard opined that he thought his charge would be tight enough off the shelf.

“He has fired fresh before,” said the trainer, who should know. ​

In his first start for Attard, Gas Me Up came off a 20-month layoff to win by 3/4 of a length, when making his Woodbine debut in June 2024. ​ Following that win, the Sam-Son Farm bred went to the sidelines for another year, before Attard guided him to his championship campaign in 2025. ​ ​

Owned by Exline-Border Racing LLC, Jawl, Michael, Aaron and Tom Zwiesler, Gas Me Up is a perfect 3 for 3 on Woodbine’s outer E.P. Taylor Turf Course, but had competed just twice previously on the inner turf, finishing 5th in an allowance race and 3^rd in the Woodbine Mile.

Attard was happy to see his pupil notch the King Edward double on each course but had his reservations going into this race. ​ ​

“I’m always a little bit more worried on this course for him. ​ On the outer course he absolutely loves it, so, looking forward to getting him back there next month.” ​

The post time favourite, Gas Me Up improved to 6-2-1 from 14 lifetime starts, and returned $6.20 for the win. ​

Piper’s Factor was 2nd, Irish Aces was 3rd and Wyoming Bill was 4th. ​

Phil McSween, Woodbine ​