Canadian horse headed to America

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - With a crowd pleasing victory in Sunday's Dominion Day Stakes under his belt, Woodbine based Hunters Bay will make his next start in the States.

Hunters Bay, trained by Reade Baker, out fought champion colt Pender Harbour to capture the 1 1/4 mile Dominion Day after a stretch long duel. Ridden by Emma-Jayne Wilson, the five-year-old horse posted a length win over Canada's 2011 champion three-year-old colt.

"He's so easy to handle," said Wilson. "If you ask him to sit, he sits. If you ask him to move on up, he moves on up. Having that tactical ability makes it easier to ride these kinds of races."

The Dominion Day win came after Hunters Bay scored a victory in the Eclipse Stakes at Woodbine on May 26. Now saddled with a three race win streak the Stronach Stables' runner is headed for bigger opportunities.

"We'll probably go to the Whitney (Aug. 4) at Saratoga or possibly the Pacific Classic (Aug. 16) at Del Mar," said Baker. "He's got speed and endurance and that's all you need."

Hunters Bay has a career mark of six wins in 11 starts for $402,292. This year he has taken three of four starts for $267,306.

Unraced as a two-year-old, Hunters Bay has shown the ability to win on both synthetic and dirt tracks. His first two wins came at Belmont and Monmouth Parks followed by two close seconds at Gulfstream Park, all real dirt surfaces.