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Tampa Bay Derby Gotham Day Saudi Cup Day Sovereign Award Finalists Withers, Toboggan, Ruthless |
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 Trainer Virgil Morgan Jr. and Mister Big return after warming up for the Canadian Pacing Derby earlier in the evening. |
The richest harness race this week was run at Mohawk Racetrack in Campbellville, Ontario on Saturday night, as a field of 9 older pacers contested the $702,000 Canadian Pacing Derby. U.S. Pacing Championship winner Mister Big was sent off as the even-money favorite, coming into the race off a four race winning streak which also includes the Haughton Pace. In to challenge the Virgil Morgan Jr. trainee included Classic Pace winner Artistic Fella at 6-5, second to Mister Big in the U.S. Pacing Championship last time out, and 11-1 third choice Western Shore, winner of the only elimination heat for this race.
 First time by with Eagle Luck, Western Shore, and Won the West out front. |
Pgm Horse Driver Win Place Show 7 Mister Big Sears 4.00 2.60 2.70 1 Western Shore Macdonald 5.50 5.80 2 Eagle Luck Filion 13.80 Winning Time: 1:50 $2 Exacta 7-1 34.60 $2 Trifecta 7-1-2 328.30 $2 Superfecta 7-1-2-3 681.20Results chart Race 7 |
Left: Mister Big returns to the winner's circle with trainer Virgil Morgan Jr.
Right: Mister Big shares the winner's circle with Thumbelina, the world's smallest horse. Driver Brian Sears, winning his third Canadian Pacing Derby in a row, said, "It just played out right in my hand, the way the race unfolded. My horse put out a great effort and it just worked out perfect. I just didn't want to get in too big of a hurry back there and rush him at any time. I know he likes to close and he could probably pick them up, the way they were battling. It just worked out perfect."
Left: Mister Big in the post parade.
Right: Thumbelina watches Mister Big as he heads back to the barn after the race.
Left: Second place finisher Western Shore in the post parade. 11-1 second choice Western Shore contested the pace the whole way in third with driver Mark Macdonald, but could not improve position, finishing third but moving up to second on the disqualification. The Ervin Miller trained son of Western Hanover improved his record to 4 wins, 6 seconds, and 2 thirds in 19 starts so far this year.
Right: Third place finisher Eagle Luck warms up before the race. The 39-1 longshot saved ground around both turns with driver Sylvain Filion back in fourth, then entered the stretch in fifth, passing the tiring Artistic Fella late to get fourth, but moved up to third on the disqualification. The Gregg McNair trained son of Camluck improved his record to 2 wins, 0 seconds, and 4 thirds in 14 starts so far this year.
Left: Won the West who finished second but was disqualified to fourth for going inside two pylons during the stretch run.
Right: Artistic Fella was second favorite by only a narrow margin at odds of 1.15-1 but finished a disappointing sixth, fading the the stretch.
Left: The big star of the night was the tiny Thumbelina, only 17 1/2 inches tall and 57 pounds, the world's smallest horse. Here she is with retired Hall of Fame jockey Sandy Hawley in the winner's circle. The 7-year-old mare tours to raise money for charity and often visits children's hospitals, schools, and shelters.
Right: Mister Big's driver Brian Sears meets Thumbelina after the race.
The undercard featured two divisions of the Eternal Camnation Stakes for 2-year-old pacing fillies, with each division running for a purse of $141,800. In the first division, 9-5 second choice In The Game (#2) sat in fourth parked off the pylons behind the pace set by 13-1 Bet On Luck, then came on late between horses to get the win by a neck in 1:55 4/5. Bet On Luck dead-heated for place with 7-1 Break The News, while 8-5 favorite Treasure Keeper broke stride early and finished last.
Winning driver John Campbell said, "She's got a couple of issues with her gait; we've got to get her a little smoother so she's handier when she gets in tough. That'll hurt her if she doesn't, but she's got lots of go to her and she's very game, so she does have the tools to work with. Nifty's (trainer Richard Norman) just got to make some adjustments on her. I don't think it's the track or anything like that. It's just a learning curve for these young fillies, learning how to pace fast. I was concerned about keeping her pacing around that last turn. She got a little bumpy and rough there – I was more worried about just keeping her pacing at that point, but once she got in the lane and straightened up she kicked home real strong."
Winning driver Jody Jamieson said, "I wasn't sure how she'd respond against the top fillies tonight. It was unfortunate (that) she made a break last week. I let her float to the lead and she relaxed good. When I asked her, she really paced hard."
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