from Meadowlands Media Relations

While trainer Mark Ford opted to skip the $49,400 Father Foley Memorial in favor of the Classic Series with his best trotter, he still has two more chances to win that race on Sunday afternoon at the Meadowlands.

Ford will send out the entry of Blastaway Sahbra and Sir Valahad in the Father Foley, rated at 12-1 on the morning line, in Sunday’s sixth race.

It was courtesy of another Ford trainee, Rockymosa Raptor, that Blastaway Sahbra drew into the Father Foley Final. Blastaway Sahbra raced in just one leg of the Father Foley and finished fourth, making the list of also eligibles.

“We were lucky to get Blastaway Sahbra in,” Ford said. “We sent our good horse, Rockymosa Raptor, into the Classic Series on Saturday night. Blastaway Sahbra was next on the list, so he drew in with a decent post [three]. The other horse [Sir Valahad] drew post 10 and is at the mercy of it.”

Owned by Dean Davis and Brenda Sugg of Wooster, Ohio, the six-year-old gelding has won 38 of his 106 career starts and is only $69 shy of $500,000 in earnings. Blastaway Sahbra set a track and world record of 1:54.3 as a four-year-old at Northfield Park. For the last three years, trainer Kurt Sugg has entrusted the trotter to Mark Ford for his racing engagements in New Jersey, New York and Canada.

“I had him on and off all of his life on the East Coast,” Ford said. “He is just a Jersey milk cow. He doesn’t win every week, but he gets in there and gets a check. He has primarily raced at Yonkers and Freehold, getting checks and doing well. He is not a big track horse, but he did win a division of the Su Mac Lad a few years ago here. He is always there. He doesn’t require a whole lot. I keep him at my home and not at the track. He likes a lot of time outside. He is very easy to be around. He is a nice horse. He is not a superstar, but he is a half millionaire and he has made it the hard way.”

A consistent money-earner, Blastaway Sahbra has hit the board in 13 of 16 races this year, with six victories and six seconds. Stephane Bouchard, who has driven him in his last seven starts, will be in the sulky on Sunday.

“You can race him any way you want, and he is always there,” he said. “In the spring and summer he is better than in the winter. He is best in the summer because he gets out more, and he likes it that way.

Front, back or following, he is good all ways. He doesn’t require a whole lot of work. He likes to be out a lot. He doesn’t like to train; he likes to race. We could probably race him 50 times a year, and he would probably be happy. He doesn’t like too many weeks off. We only give him a couple of days at most. He likes to jog a couple of days and then race on the weekends.”

Sir Valahad is a more recent addition to Ford’s barn. The six-year-old gelding is owned by driver Yannick Gingras and was previously trained by Gingras’ fiancée, Vicki Mosher.

“I had him all winter,” Ford said. “When I first got him, he was winning in Toronto and then he had problems with his feet. He hasn’t come back 100 percent yet. He is not a superstar. Neither of them are. I am realistic. I don’t expect them to win, but I think they could both be in the money. Our horse with the best shot for it [Rockymosa Raptor] is in the Classic on Saturday. At least the other got in.”

Sir Valahad posted back-to-back wins at Woodbine and was fourth in the junior free for all on February 15, 2004 before being sidelined with lameness.

“His foot got nasty,” he said. “He had wall separation on his left hind. You are very limited with what you can do with a horse that is so lame. He needed time, and you try to get through it.

Unfortunately, when it happened he was winning against the top horses in Toronto at the time. I think he needs more time to come back around.

He will be better later in the summer.”

Mosher and Gingras claimed him as part of a partnership for $40,000 on April 24, 2003 at the Meadowlands. He has earned $87,439 since then. In January, Gingras acquired sole ownership of the trotter.

“We were looking for a horse that made money that would complement Blastaway Sahbra,” Ford said. “They are a nice pair. They are nothing special, but they keep getting checks and they have probably made more then they should have. Both will go to Yonkers, Freehold and Rockingham. They are better on a half. They are a nice pair, but they are not superstars. Blastaway is a better horse, and he drew better.

Sir Valahad [post 10] has a long way to come, but he seems good. I can’t complain.”

The field for the $49,400 Father Foley Final, the sixth race on Sunday [from the rail out]: Flapjack Attack, Jim Doherty, 15-1; Cordial Martini, Jimmy Takter, 5-1; Blastaway Sahbra, Stephane Bouchard, 12-1; Coerfurst, Ron Pierce, 8-1; Solicitor Hanover, Mike Lachance, 12-1; Theater Production, David Miller, 6-5; Patio Pete, Daniel Dube, 15-1; Sundown Score, George Brennan, 4-1; Greeensview Hanover, Brian Sears, 12-1 and Sir Valahad, Yannick Gingras, 12-1.

The trotting series is named for the late Joseph Foley, a Catholic priest who ministered to the horsemen who raced at the Meadowlands.

OUELLETTE ISSUES HHYF CHALLENGE

Luc Ouellette, a four-time leading driver at the Meadowlands, is challenging North American harness drivers and trainers to pledge a percentage of their monthly commission during May to the Harness Horse Youth Foundation, which encourages and supports the participation of young people in harness racing.

Since 2000, Ouellette has pledged his five percent driving commission from one day each week in May to the HHYF. Ouellette hopes that drivers and trainers on both sides of the Canadian border will join him by pledging their earnings from at least one race per week to help support the educational efforts of the foundation.

After winning the Meadowlands title in 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2003 (sharing it with David Miller), Ouellette moved back to his native Canada in 2004 and currently drives at Woodbine and Mohawk.

Any driver or trainer willing to take the “Challenge” should contact Ellen Taylor at 317-867-5877 or via email at mailto:novemberdavies@hotmail.com, or November Davies at 519-853-5344 or via email at novemberdavies@hotmail.com.