Gas Me Up successfully defended his title in the G2 King Edward Stakes when he got his nose down at the wire in a thrilling three-horse photo finish at Woodbine Aug. 15.
The six-year-old Hard Spun gelding, who was named Champion male turf horse in Canada in 2025, is now a three-time Graded Stakes winner. In addition to capturing two editions of the King Edward, Gas Me Up also won the G2 Joe Hernandez Stakes at Santa Anita last year.
Gas Me Up broke a bit awkwardly and settled off the leading pair of Piper’s Factor and G T Five Hundred in third as they raced into the clubhouse turn. Gas Me Up continued his stalking trip down the backstretch, inching closer as the field moved into the far turn.
Set down for the drive at the top of the stretch, Gas Me Up closed relentlessly on Piper’s Factor, who was the sole leader after G T Five Hundred dropped out contention. Gas Me Up continued to whittle away at the lead as Irish Aces suddenly loomed a threat as he closed swiftly from mid-pack. The trio hit the wire together in a blanket finish, with Gas Me Up winning by a nose over Piper’s Factor, who was a nose ahead of Irish Aces.
Bred in Ontario by Sam-Son Farm, Gas Me Up is the second Stakes winner out of the Stakes-placed Smart Strike mare Chic Thrill. The gelding's full brother, Give It a Whirl, captured the 2024 Bald Eagle Derby at Laurel Park. He also has a Stakes-placed three-year-old half sister, C’est Chouette (Gun Runner). Chic Thrill is out of Canadian Champion juvenile filly, Catch the Thrill, and is a half sister to Stakes-winner Curlin’s Catch.
Hard Spun's other Graded Stakes winners this year include Built (G2 Alfred G. Vanderbilt), Moon Spun (G2 Unbridled Sidney Stakes), Bold Journey (G3 Tom Fool), and Runaway Again (G3 Dominion Day Stakes). Hard Spun was represented by 21 Stakes horses in 2025 - more than any other stallion standing for less than $45,000.
