Wolfie’s Dynaghost, a 5-year-old son of Ghostzapper, put on a front-running tour de force to win Sunday’s $175,000 Autumn Stakes (G2) at Woodbine.
Trained by Jonathan Thomas for owner-breeder Woodslane Farm, the gelding arrived at the 1 1/16-mile main track race for 3-year-olds and up off a third in the Durham Cup (G3) at the Toronto oval on October 7.
He’s the latest Graded Stakes winner to be foaled at Hidden Brook Farm in Paris, Kentucky.
Supplemented to the Autumn, multiple graded stakes placed Wolfie’s Dynaghost earned his first graded triumph courtesy of a flawless performance on a cloudy gray afternoon at Woodbine.
Sent on his way at 7-2 in the compact field of six, the bay, with leading rider Kazushi Kimura aboard, was engaged by multiple graded stakes victor War Bomber (IRE) and Win for the Money in the run to the first turn.
Wolfie’s Dynaghost was a half-length clear of War Bomber through an opening panel timed in :24.71, followed by Win for the Money, 3-5 choice Tyson, Artie’s Storm, and Luckman.
In front by a length through a half in :48.44, Wolfie’s Dynaghost, making his third appearance at Woodbine, remained unfettered on the front end in the leadup to the final turn, with little change in positioning throughout the field. Coming off the turn for home, Wolfie’s Dynaghost, still running comfortably on the lead, began to pull away from his pursuers and held a 2½-length advantage at the stretch call.
From there, the only thing left to decide was second place, as Win for the Money and 40-1 Luckman dueled for the runner-up spot, with the former three-quarters of a length clear of his rival at the wire.
The final time for Wolfie’s Dynaghost’s 4½-length victory was 1:42.52.
“I felt like he had a nice, high cruising pace, and I just kept him steady and just kept it going from the beginning,” said Kimura. “He was really relaxed on the backstretch and just took off from the three-eighths. It was a magnificent race.”
It was the ninth lifetime win, accompanied by a pair of seconds and five thirds from 24 starts for the Kentucky-bred, whose travels have taken him to Florida, New York, Kentucky, Virginia, and Pennsylvania.
Wolfie’s Dynaghost, whose dam is the Dynaformer mare Dynaire, returned $9.70 for the win.
-edited from www.paulickreport.com
