by Jeff Renton, media/communications, the Woodbine Entertainment Group

Toronto, ON — After taking a pocket ride through the first three calls, Hellava Hush and driver Steve Condren had some good luck fall into their laps on Monday night, as they went on to capture Woodbine’s C$50,000 Open Trot in 1:52.4.

Sitting pretty through opening splits of :26.4, :56.1 and 1:25.2, Hellava Hush inherited the lead after Northern Bailey made a break while leading the pack home.

It was smooth sailing from there on in for Hellava Hush, who with the effort notched his sixth score in 21 starts this year, the 20th of his career.

“War Paint ran on the outside of me and (driver) Dave Wall and Northern Bailey ran in front of me,” said Condren. “It was like the parting of the Red Sea.”

Racing at odds of 7-1, Hellava Hush returned $17.60, $3.70, $3.00 across the board. Mr Muscleman, the 2004 Maple Leaf Trot champion, closed late for second off of cover for Mike Vanderkemp and paid $2.10 for both the place and show wager. In rein to Paul MacDonell, Dresden Dolly, the lone mare in the field, finished third and paid $3.70 to show.

The exactor and triactor returned $44.40 and $163.00 respectively.

The win time was just three-fifths of a second off of Dr Ronerail’s 2002 track record of 1:52.1.

With proceeds from the victory, Hellava Hush, a four-year-old gelding by Lindy Lane–Kindava Hush, pushed his seasonal earnings to $134,219 and his career bankroll to $467,109.

Conditioned by Bill Gallagher, Hellava Hush was bred by Pickering, Ontario’s Al Libfield and is owned by Livingston, New Jersey’s Joseph Chnapko.