Wicked Django captures the Autumn (Michael Burns)
Chris Lomon/Woodbine Communications
TORONTO – Wicked Django, under a sharp ride from Keveh Nicholls, earned his first stakes triumph in Saturday’s Grade 2 $175,000 HPIbet Autumn at Woodbine.
Sent on his way at 24-1 in the field of eight, the 4-year-old bay colt broke a step slowly while the quartet of Paramount Prince, Forever Souper, Stanley House and 2-1 choice Dresden Row all got away sharply with multiple graded stakes winner and 2023 King’s Plate victor Paramount Prince leading the way into the first turn.
Paramount Prince was 1 ½ lengths clear of Forever Souper, second in the betting at 3-1, through a brisk opening quarter in :23.60 in the 1 1/8-mile main track event for 3-year-olds and up.
In front by a half-length after a half in :47.18, Paramount Prince picked up the pace as Forever Souper, a perfect three-for-three on the synthetic, Stanley House and multiple graded stakes winner Dresden Row, shadowed the leader as he started the turn for home.
Nicholls, meanwhile, had Wicked Django rolling five-wide late on the turn to take command in upper stretch.
A half-length clear at the stretch call, the Rodney Barrow trainee kept on for a 1 ¼-length win in a time of 1:48.45. Dresden Row was second, followed by Stanley House and Forever Souper.
It was a statement victory for Wicked Django, whose resume includes a third in both the Grade 3 Dominion Day, contested on June 29 and the Grade 2 Seagram Cup on July 27.
“He broke just a tad slow, and I let him relax back there,” said Nicholls. “I know they were going pretty solid up front, Paramount Prince and the others, and I just tried to make one steady run at them.”
The addition of blinkers played a big part in the winning performance.
“They really did [make a difference],” said Nicholls. “I worked him in the morning [with blinkers] and he really enjoyed it.”
It was the third lifetime win accompanied by a pair of seconds and four thirds from 12 starts for the son of Wicked Strong out of the Flatter mare Belcarres.
“We got him about a month ago,” said Barrow. “The owner asked me to train him, and I said, ‘Okay.’ We thought the blinkers would help a lot.”
Bred in Ontario by Denny Andrews and Niall Brennan, Wicked Django paid $50.40 for the breakthrough score. Artie’s Storm, Sir London, War Bomber (IRE) and Lac Macaza were scratched.
