Speightstown colt wins $100,000 King Corrie S. in stakes debut

Wyatt’s Town scored a front-running, one-length victory in Saturday’s $100,000 King Corrie S. at Woodbine in the first stakes start for the 3-year-old Speightstown colt.

Wyatt’s Town broke like a shot in the six-furlong affair restricted to 3-year-olds, quickly opening up by three lengths in the first furlong. Settling down under Eurico Da Silva, Wyatt’s Town got the first quarter-mile in a quick :22.25. The field began to close in, but Wyatt’s Town opened up a big lead once again on the turn, and maintained his advantage until Hemp Hemp Hurray mounted a late, but non-threatening charge in deep stretch.

The winner completed the distance in 1:09.73.

“He ran very big,” said Da Silva afterward. “When he left the gate, I was lucky I had a good hold of him because he stumbled a little bit. But he’s so quick, even though he stumbled, he was already clear in front of everybody. A very fast horse.” 

Trained by Norm McKnight for Henley Thoroughbreds and Newtop Stables, Wyatt’s Town is now 3-2-4 in nine starts and has banked $159,430. He is the first foal out of Natural Rush, whose dam Lu Ravi earned over $1.8 million.

Wyatt’s Town sold for $240,000 at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling sale. He is the 10th North American stakes winner this year for Speightstown, who has more than 150 lifetime stakes horses.