'Winnerclear' Becomes Inaugural Champion of KRA Sprint@Yeongnam

Trainer Baek Kwangyeol Achieves 20th Career Stakes Victory

On November 30, at the Korea Racing Authority (KRA) Let's Run Park Busan-Gyeongnam, "Winnerclear" (owner Lee Jonghun, trainer Baek Kwangyeol) claimed the title of inaugural champion at the 1st KRA Sprint@Yeongnam (Listed, 1200m).

The KRA Sprint@Yeongnam, held for the first time this year, was organized simultaneously with Seoul races to discover the nation's top sprinters. As short-distance races are heavily influenced by the initial start and race development, making outcomes difficult to predict, horses with diverse strengths fiercely competed for victory.

Right after the start, "Roadstar" surged to the front, with "Wonderful Groom" and "Taewangshingi" forming the leading pack early on. As the field entered the third corner, "Brido Prince" made an explosive move into the middle ranks, but in the final stretch, "Winnerclear" delivered a dramatic late charge, overtaking the fading "Wonderful Groom" and seizing the lead. At the finish line, Winnerclear secured a comfortable victory by a margin of five lengths.

Winnerclear had previously been recognized as a "next-generation ace," having scored a decisive ten-length victory at last year's Busan Gangseo-gu Mayor's Cup and narrowly defeating Grand Prix winner "Clean One" at the Gyeongnam Domin Ilbo Cup. Although Winnerclear managed only two wins in regular races during this year's three-year-old season, leaving some to desire more, the horse proved its potential as a late closer in this sprint event.

Trainer Baek Kwangyeol expressed satisfaction, stating, "Training the horse to run from behind contributed to the improved performance in this race." With this victory, Trainer Baek Kwangyeol added his 20th career stakes trophy, drawing attention from racing fans.

Winning horse Winclear and jockey Choi Sidae.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.