Hunt Master masterful in Overskate
TORONTO, October 27, 2024 – Hunt Master, under Jeffrey Alderson, took the early lead and then dug down deep late to win the $100,000 Overskate Stakes, for Ontario-sired 3-year-olds and up, Sunday at Woodbine.
Hunt Master, sent off at 5-1 in the 7 ½-furlong inner turf event, was quickly guided to the front by Alderson as 3-2 choice Awesome Bourbon settled into second heading into the first turn.
Ahead of his rival by two lengths through an opening quarter in :23.84, Hunt Master continued to glide along and held the same advantage over Awesome Bourbon after a half in :47.87.
The lead duo picked up the pace around turn for home as Hunt Master, to the inside, and Awesome Bourbon looked for the edge in the late going. Society’s Thunder then leapt into the fray along the rail, setting the stage for a thrilling three-horse finish.
At the wire, Hunt Master edged Society’s Thunder by a neck. Awesome Bourbon was a further neck back in third, followed by Rapid Test.
The final time over firm ground was 1:29.10.
“His past races, he's been forwardly placed, so that was a plan to get him out and kind of slow down the pace if I could,” said Alderson, who notched his 10th lifetime stakes victory. “He definitely fought hard.”
After a pair of runner-up stakes results in the 2022 editions of the Lake Superior and Lake Ontario, the 5-year-old son of Hunters Bay out of the Marchfield mare Lady Marchfield was able to break through on a cool, cloudy day in Toronto.
“In talking with Jeffrey before the race, the seven, Awesome Bourbon, coming from Florida looked very fast,” said trainer Angus Buntain, who recorded his first career stakes win last Sunday when Unbridled Weather took the Frost King. “And I just said to Jeff, ‘If you can get ahead of him, go for it. If he really wants to lead, then let him go and stalk him, but if you can make front, go ahead and make front and let him chase you.’”
Bred by Lanny McDonald, Linda Barron and Susan Rasmussen (Openwood Farm), the bay gelding is now 5-8-3 from 24 starts.
“Angus has had him since he was a 2-year-old,” noted Rasmussen, who won the 2013 Victoriana Stakes with Hobnobsnob. “We had him in the (Queen’s, now King’s) Plate as a 3-year-old, and he's just carried on. And he’s a real Trojan.”
Hunt Master, who debuted with a second on Sept. 4, 2021, at Woodbine, and won next time out, also at the Toronto oval, on Oct. 10 of that year, paid $13.90 for today's win.
Chris Lomon, Woodbine
.jpg "Hunt Master and jockey Jeffrey Alderson winning the Overskate stakes on October 27, 2024 at Woodbine (Michael Burns Photo)")
