Woodbine Racetrack: Canadian champion Fifty Proof triumphant in Sir Barton return

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Canadian champion Fifty Proof made a triumphant return to the races from a 16-month layoff Sunday at Woodbine Racetrack, winning the $126,600 Sir Barton Stakes in front-running style under Justin Stein.

Trained by Ian Black, Fifty Proof set fractions of 24.39 and 48.38 seconds in the 1 1/16-mile event for Ontario-sired stock. He opened up a comfortable lead early in the stretch, before coasting home on top by a1 ¼ lengths, in 1:43.46. Bobcaygeon finished third in the 12-horse field.

Fifty Proof, last year’s champion older runner in Canada, returned $5.50 as the favorite and banked $75,000 for the partnership of Kinghaven Farm, John Fielding, and Ben Hutzel.

* Pyrite Mountain ($6) nosed out the leading Power Phil after a stirring stretch duel to win his maiden in style in the $125,000 Kingarvie Stakes.

With Patrick Husbands up, Pyrite Mountain went five-wide on the first turn in the 1 1/16-mile route. He subsequently tracked Power Phil, and went on to prevail in a head-bob, in 1:45.46. Jade Dragon was another four lengths back in third in the eight-horse field of Ontario-sired 2-year-olds.

Mark Frostad trains Pyrite Mountain for the Awesome Again Racing Limited Partnership.

“We got hung out pretty wide on the first turn,” said Frostad.”We lost a lot of lengths, and I thought that was coming back to haunt us, but fortunately, Patrick prevailed and the horse ran a game race.”