Hammerhead, guided by jockey Daisuke Fukumoto, earned his first stakes victory with a strong showing in the $150,000 Bet 365 Valedictory (G3) for horses aged three and older at Woodbine this past Saturday. Making his debut at Woodbine, Hammerhead impressively surged ahead in a 1.5-mile race on the main track during a warm evening at the Toronto Oval.
The 4-year-old gelding held a two-length advantage over Cool Kiss until the initial quarter-mile, recording a time of 25.69 seconds. Following closely were Lost Ark and F30-5, with Hammerhead positioned fifth out of a nine-horse field. The race progressed with Hammerhead staying fifth at the half-mile mark, clocking in at 51.83 seconds, maintaining a three-length distance ahead of Cool Kiss.
After the three-quarter mile point, jockey Fukumoto urged Hammerhead forward, and the dark bay took the lead as other contenders tried to keep up. Trainer Kevin Attard confidently led the mile at 1:45.18, though many competitors had to exert extra effort to challenge the frontrunners.
As the finish approached, Hammerhead continued to fend off challengers, with Robert Geller’s call indicating a two-length lead. The horse crossed the finish line ahead by one length in a time of 2:34.40. Stablemate Jokester secured second place, while Passing Game and F3T-Five battled for third. Szabo, competing for the third time in this race under Attard, finished seventh.
Fukumoto shared, “I wanted to stay behind so the horse could relax, and he did just that. He’s a good horse who really enjoys the distance.” This marked Hammerhead’s second career win—out of 13 races, he now has 2 wins, 4 seconds, and 2 thirds. The horse is sired by Warfront out of Medaglia d’Oro mare Figarella’s Queen, who placed second in the Valedictory over 1 3/8 miles on turf earlier in October.
Attard commented on their success in longer races, noting past near-misses and the challenge of competing against top-tier horses, saying confidence plays a big role. Hammerhead debuted on August 17, 2024, finishing sixth in a 1 1/16-mile turf race at Saratoga, and earned his first win that October in a one-mile turf race at Woodbine.
Bred in Kentucky by Glen Hill Farms and owned by Gold Square LLC, Hammerhead was sold for $225,000 at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Hopeton Francis serves as the horse’s groom. Hammerhead’s win paid $9.70.
This victory is significant for horse racing fans as it highlights the rising talent of Hammerhead, a long-distance specialist, adding excitement to marathon races. The win also reflects the ongoing strength and potential of Daniel Attard’s stable, promising competitive future events that captivate enthusiasts of the sport.
