Bar Hopping gives Takter third consecutive Trotting Classic
September 18, 2016,by Mark McKelvie, WEG Communications
Campbellville, ON — Bar Hopping charged home to win the C$687,000 Canadian Trotting Classic by 3-1/2 lengths Saturday night (Sept. 17) at Mohawk Racetrack. The Jimmy Takter trained colt was able to convert off a perfect second-over steer from driver Tim Tetrick to win Canada’s biggest race for 3-year-old trotters.
New Image Media photo
Bar Hopping upsets Hambletonian and Yonkers Trot victor Marion Marauder in the Canadian Trotting Classic.
A trio of longshots fired out for the front, while Marion Marauder, the 3-5 favorite, was unhurried and got away fourth ahead of main rivals Southwind Frank and Bar Hopping. Scott Zeron sent Marion Marauder to the front in the second quarter-mile and took the lead at the half in :55.4. Southwind Frank was pushed first-over, which allowed Tetrick to put Bar Hopping in a perfect second-over position.
Marion Marauder led the field by the three-quarter pole in 1:24.2. In the stretch, Marion Marauder created a little separation on his rivals, but that was quickly erased by Bar Hopping. The Takter trainee fired off cover and powered by in the final eighth of the mile for a 1:53.1 victory.
“There was enough speed in there and I was trying to find a good horse to follow,” said Tetrick following his second Trotting Classic victory. “I saw Yannick not getting away as good as I think he wanted and I got a good trip following him all the way to the promised land. Scotty’s (Zeron) horse was putting up decent enough fractions and my horse got to track him all the way to the top of the lane and he did the rest from there.”
Marion Marauder held on for second, while Bee In Charge finished third ahead of Winter Harbor.
A son of Muscle Hill, Bar Hopping captured his elimination last week in 1:52.4 and was sent off at odds of 4-1 in Saturday’s rich final. The sophomore trotting colt has had a strong season, but has been slightly overshadowed by rivals Marion Marauder and Southwind Frank, who had captured the classic 3-year-old events before the Canadian Trotting Classic.
“Well he’s been really close, but he just hasn’t got it done,” Tetrick said. “It’s not for lack of trying. He put it all together tonight and there is still a lot of money to go for the rest of the year.”
Owned by Christina Takter, Hatfeld Stables, Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld, Bar Hopping is now a five-time winner from 13 starts this season for nearly C$800,000 in earnings. His career totals are now improved to six victories and C$901,048 earned. The Muscle Hill colt’s triumph Saturday gives trainer Jimmy Takter three consecutive victories in the Canadian Trotting Classic and five overall.
“We’ve got a lot of partners and great partners, so I’m so happy for this win,” said Takter in the winner’s circle. “I was due to win a big race with this horse because he is a very nice horse.”
Takter noted that Bar Hopping will now head to The Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky for Grand Circuit action.
Bar Hopping paid $10.10, $3.70 and $3.00.
- Mohawk stakes finals in Grand Circuit spotlight (Wednesday, September 14, 2016)
Grand Circuit action at Mohawk will be held on Saturday with the C$632,000 Maple Leaf Trot for older trotters, the C$687,000 Canadian Trotting Classic for 3-year-old male trotters, the C$436,000 Elegantimage for 3-year-old filly trotters, the C$350,000 William Wellwood Memorial for 2-year-old male trotters, the C$363,000 Peaceful Way final for 2-year-old filly trotters, and two C$35,000 eliminations in the Milton Stake for older pacing mares.
- C$2.6 million Maple Leaf Trot and Canadian Trotting Classic card set (Wednesday, September 14, 2016)
All eyes will be on harness racing’s finest trotters Saturday evening (Sept. 17) at Mohawk Racetrack for Maple Leaf Trot and Canadian Trotting Classic night. An outstanding card featuring the best trotters of all ages has been assembled with more than C$2.6 million in purse money on the line.
- Burke seeks Wellwood trifecta with What The Hill (Wednesday, September 14, 2016)
Trainer Ron Burke will try to win the William Wellwood Memorial for the third consecutive year, and while this season’s contender What The Hill might not enter Saturday’s race with the same buildup as 2015 champion Southwind Frank, the colt has shown he possesses one extremely coveted talent — the desire to get to the finish line first.
- Magic Presto evokes memories of Bee A Magician in pursuit of Peaceful Way title (Thursday, September 15, 2016)
Everyone in this business longs for that horse; the one that is a world champion, a Horse of the Year and charts the course of history so their name is forever distinguished, remembered and revered. Although Magic Presto has only just begun her career, the inspiration behind her purchase was the premonition that lightning may be captured in a bottle, not once, but twice and that she could follow in the hoofprints of another filly that first served notice of her superiority with a victory in the 2012 Peaceful Way — Bee A Magician.
- Ariana G strolls in Peaceful Way (Saturday, September 17, 2016)
Securing the lead after the half-mile, Ariana G advanced towards a 1:54 victory in the C$363,000 Peaceful Way final on Saturday night (Sept.17) at Mohawk Racetrack.
- Resolve victorious in epic Maple Leaf Trot (Saturday, September 17, 2016)
Resolve turned in a game effort to come away with 1:51.4 victory in the C$632,000 Maple Leaf Trot Saturday night (Sept. 17) at Mohawk Racetrack. The 5-year-old stallion was went toe-to-toe with standout mare Hannelore Hanover for the final half-mile and ultimately wore down the powerhouse to score a 1-1/2 victory for Swedish native and trainer/driver Ake Svanstedt.
- Seven And Seven captures Wellwood Memorial (Saturday, September 17, 2016)
Seven And Seven lunged off cover and down the center of the track to take the C$350,000 William Wellwood Memorial final in 1:55.3 Saturday night at Mohawk Racetrack.