Yorkton takes Charlie Barley S. for second straight black type win

Yorkton, a 3-year-old Speightstown colt, held of Conquest Lemonraid by a neck to win the $119,000 Charlie Barley S. July 2 at Woodbine.

Yorkton, who won the $125,000 Queenston S. on Woodbine’s synthetic main track in May in his previous start, upped his record to 3-0-2 in eight starts and has earned $156,388 for his owner/breeder Chiefswood Stable.

Yorkton was all heart in his victory. After breaking on top, he settled about three lengths off the lead for the first half-mile. He began to inch up on the turn, then put his head in front in upper stretch. Digging down resolutely in the final furlong, he held off the late charge of Conquest Lemonraid to finish the mile on the firm turf in 1:33.55.

“I put him a little behind another horse. He was just relaxed but In the stretch.” said winning rider Eurico Da Silva. “ I just turned him loose and he ran great.”

“He has always been really talented,” added trainer Stuart Simon.  “He has been very forward so we’ve been trying to work with him, trying to get him to settle, and it looks like the work has been paying off.”

Yorkton is one of Speightown’s 10 North American black type winners this year. Speightstown is one of only four stallions with at least double-digit stakes winners in 2017.