by Karen Briggs, WEG Media

CAMPBELLVILLE, ON – Jody Jamieson came close, but was denied a hat-trick in tonight’s three divisions of C$113,883 Champlain Stakes for 2-year-old pacing colts at Mohawk when his drive, Santanna Blue Chip, came up against a colt who is truly becoming a dominant force, Jean-Louis Arsenault trainee, Somebeachsomewhere.

Coming off a world record performance in the C$1 million Metro Pace last week, and sent to the gate as the prohibitive 1-9 favorite in the third split of the Champlain, Somebeachsomewhere and linesman Paul MacDonnell played a waiting game behind Upfront Hannasboy and Dave Miller, Weekend Gambler, and Santanna Blue Chip, but accelerated to the front before the half and turned away all comers from then on. The fastest freshman pacer in the sport turned in a smoking final quarter of 26 seconds flat and produced a new Champlain stakes record of 1:51 on his way to a four length victory for the Schooner Stables of Truro, Nova Scotia.

It was the fifth consecutive victory for the unbeaten Somebeachsomewhere, a son of Mach Three out of the Beach Towel mare, Wheres the Beach. Santanna Blue Chip was game for second, Upfront Hannasboy was third, and 55-1 longshot Todd J H Hanover came in fourth.

Co-owner Brent McGrath said, “He was awesome last Sunday, and to kick a quarter in 26 seconds here tonight and the mile in 1:51, it’s just unbelievable. Paul drove the horse perfectly; he put him on the front end under no stress and let him pace home. He just sprinted down the stretch and he looked very comfortable. He told me he was steering perfect …he certainly looked perfect. He’s the real deal.”

McGrath confirmed that, despite several good offers, he and his partners have decided not to sell Somebeachsomewhere but to continue to race him themselves through the rest of his freshman season and his 3-year-old year.