TORONTO, August 30, 2026 — Hard knocker King’s Counsel rallied widest and broke his maiden in lucrative style to win Sunday’s $300,000 Simcoe Stakes at Woodbine. Ridden by Daisuke Fukumoto for the third straight time, the 2-year-old gelded son of By My Standards broke slightly outward from post position 3, brushing with Prince Shaman, to his outside, as the latches sprung. Making his fourth career start, King’s Counsel bounced nicely into stride and was sixth of nine leaving the chute in the six and one-half furlong sprint for two-year-old colts and geldings, foaled in Canada. Logan’s Thunder, breaking from post 9, cleared the field early and led through an opening quarter mile in :22.33. Even money favourite Souper Survivor was second, Prince Shaman was third and Longshot Leo was fourth. Inside the five-sixteenth marker, King’s Counsel angled outside of foes, while commencing a rally through an opening half-mile in :44.97. The Barb Minshall trainee, while out widest swept to the lead inside the one-eighth pole, driving past Souper Survivor in the 2 path and a rail rallying Longshot Leo to win in a three-horse driving finish, by three-quarters of a length in a final time of 1:17.32. King’s Counsel and jockey Daisuke Fukumoto winning the Simcoe Stakes on August 30, 2026 at Woodbine (Michael Burns Photo) An $82,000 (CDN) purchase at the 2025 CTHS yearling sale, King’s Counsel was making his fourth career start after consecutive runner up finishes, including his latest, finishing three and one-quarter lengths behind the filly De la Renta, who subsequently went on to defeat males in the Soaring Free Stakes. The Simcoe maiden breaker was sweet given King’s Counsel had beaten 19 of 21 foes in his previous two races. “Barb told me just ‘clean trip’, so I just went on the outside and just sat behind the horse. Then said go and he just ran,” said Fukomoto, who was aboard for both previous runner up placings. “He won for the first time today, so you know, when he got up front, he was still looking around. When company came on the inside, he goes again. I just rode hard until the wire.” Trainer Minshall said Woodbine’s proximity to Pearson International Airport was also a concern for her promising juvenile. “I was worried about the planes, because he looks up at the planes, but I just told Daisuke hang on and be ready,” said the veteran Woodbine conditioner. “I picked this horse out. I thought he was one of the best individuals. I do like the female family, and I just thought he was just the best-looking horse at the sale. I had to pay for him, but I got him.” Owned by Minshall and bred in Ontario by Bernard and Karen McCormack, King’s Counsel (By My Standards – Queen Martha, by Rahy) improved to 1-2-0 from 4 career starts. Going first time Lasix, the winner was listed at 3-1 on the morning line, went off at 1.75 to 1 and returned $5.50 for the Simcoe triumph. 20-1 Longshot Leo completed the exactor, while favourite Souper Survivor was third and 90-1 shot It Wasn’t a Bluff rounded up the superfecta. Phil McSween, Woodbine Share This:Share
