TORONTO, September 1 – Chiefswood Stable homebred Yorkton will turn back in distance for Holiday Monday’s $100,000 King Corrie Stakes, at Woodbine. Trained by Stu Simon, the Speightstown bay stumbled badly last time out in the one-mile Bruce D. Memorial at Arlington Park ending an impressive run of form that included back-to-back wins in the Queenston and Charlie Barley Stakes here at Woodbine. "He stumbled really hard at the start and just never recovered from there. He lost all chance at the break," said Simon. Fortunately, Yorkton, a three-time winner from nine starts, has come out of the event no worse for wear breezing four furlongs in :47 flat over the Woodbine main on August 27. "He’s fine," said Simon. "He worked really well here last week. When he went that well we decided to proceed on running him here in this spot." A maiden winner last year travelling six furlongs on the Tapeta, Yorkton has the ability to show speed but can also rate as needed. On April 22, he set the pace en route to a third in the six furlong Woodstock Stakes, and was a runaway winner against restricted company in the seven furlong Queenston earing a career-best 93 Beyer Speed Figure. On July 2, Yorkton showed an ability to settle and make a run when a neck winner of the Charlie Barley Stakes at a one-turn mile over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course. "I think he’s alright anywhere from six furlongs to a mile. He’s pretty versatile that way," said Simon. "He’s improved as he’s got older and hopefully he’ll continue on that route and be a nice older horse for next year." Jesse Campbell will pilot Yorkton from the outside post in a field of five. To win the 6 1/2-furlong main track sprint for three-year-olds, Yorkton will have to turn back the streaking Circle of Friends who is perfect in four starts this campaign including a first added-money score last time out in the Ontario Jockey Club Stakes. Circle of Friends is one of two undefeated sprinters in the barn of Robert Tiller, the other being Pink Lloyd who captured the Kenora Stakes on Wednesday night in gritty fashion to maintain a six-race unbeaten streak. Although currently the lesser heralded of the Tiller-trained sprinters, Circle of Friends is rapidly improving and will have the benefit of leading rider Eurico Rosa da Silva. Bred in Ontario by Ericka Rusnak, the dark bay son of Midnight Lute will leave from the inside post. Bugle Barry, Bet On Mike and Uncle B complete the field. The King Corrie is slated as Race 3 on Holiday Monday’s 8-race card. First post time is 1PM. Fans can watch and wager on all the action via HPIbet.com. FIELD FOR THE $100,000 KING CORRIE STAKES POST / HORSE / JOCKEY / TRAINER 1 / Circle of Friends / Eurico Rosa da Silva / Robert Tiller 2 / Bugle Barry / David Moran / Ryan Walsh 3 / Bet On Mike / Rafael Hernandez / Roger Attfield 4 / Uncle B / Emma-Jayne Wilson / Nick Gonzalez 5 / Yorkton / Jesse Campbell / Stu Simon Share This:Share
