Outlaw Kid and Kazushi Kimura up in time to capture the Vice Regent (Michael Burns)
By Chris Lomon – Woodbine Communications
TORONTO— Outlaw Kid, at 4-5, got up in the final strides to take the $150,000 Vice Regent Stakes, Saturday at Woodbine.
Silent Reserve emerged with the lead in the five-furlong race over the inner turf for Ontario-bred 3-year-olds and up, outsprinting multiple stakes winner Rockcrest and Aim for the Sky for early control.
Eswan Flores had Silent Reserve two lengths clear of Aim for the Sky, who was a head in front of Rockcrest, while Outlaw Kid sat fourth along the rail, after a lively opening quarter in :21.66.
Around the turn for home, Silent Reserve was pressured by Aim for the Sky, in the middle, and Rockcrest, to the outside, as Kazushi Kimura navigated a path for Outlaw Kid to make a clear run down the lane.
Silent Reserve dug in gamely to the inside, but Outlaw Kid wore down his rival late to notch a hard-fought neck win in a time of :56.20 over firm ground. Mason’s Gamble rallied along the rail to finish third. Warp Ride bested Rockcrest by a head for fourth. Aim for the Sky, Forester’s Fortune and Silent Runner completed the order of finish. Ol’ Blondie was scratched.
It was the second start at Woodbine for the son of Violence, who was sixth in the Highlander Stakes (G2T) on July 1.
Leading rider Kazushi Kimura, aboard the George Weaver trainee for the first time, was impressed by the late-running energy showcased by the 4-year-old dark bay.
“He’s obviously a nice horse,” said Kimura. “I just followed the instruction from the trainer and just sit him back and make one move. He was ready to go when I swung him out. I was so confident to ride him.”
Outlaw Kid, owned by R.A. Hill Stable and SGV Thoroughbreds, finished sixth in his debut in January 2022 at Gulfstream Park before winning two consecutive starts, one at Saratoga, the other at Belmont. He was third in his first stakes effort, the Carle Place, at Belmont, on October 23.
Bred by Robert Harvey, Outlaw Kid now sports a mark of 4-1-1 from 10 starts.
He paid $3.80 for the win.
Live racing at Woodbine continues Sunday. First post is 1:05 p.m.
