by Jeff Renton, media/communications, the Woodbine Entertainment Group
Toronto, ON — There is a common theme in every sport, and society in general for that matter: people love to root for the underdog.
Be it a home-grown ball team up against a squad full of talented multi-millionaire free agents, or a conditioned-level trotter going up against proven high-class stake warriors, there is nothing quite like seeing the unexpected happen.
With the likes of Eilean Donon, Beardmore, In Conchnito, Coventry and American Mike having drawn into this Saturday evening’s three C$30,000 elimination divisions of the Goodtimes Stakes, some heavy hitters are obviously in there.
All that is now needed to turn the trick is a capable three-year-old to upset the apple cart.
Looking at his recent lines, and after his performance last night at Woodbine, Cal Campbell pupil Bertos Dream looks like he could have a probable shot to topple the fruit.
![](http://ustrottingnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/3285-040609wbBertos.jpg)
WEG Photo
Bertos Dream will be looking to continue his winning ways in a Goodtimes Stakes elimination on Saturday.
A Garland Lobell colt out of the Promising Catch mare Canaco Ginger, Bertos Dream last year raced twice at Hippodrome de Montreal and once at both Mohawk and Flamboro Downs respectively. Going three-wide at the half-mile, he won his first in “La Belle Province” last year in 2:013, but couldn’t stay flat for his other three tests.
Owned by Laval, Quebec’s Gaetan Bono, Bertos Dream was broken and trained in Quebec by conditioner Paulo Jutras. When asked, Bono said that Bertos Dream was the best horse that Jutras had broken for him in their 15-year business relationship. When Campbell recently took control of the trotter, he said that Jutras had done a great job in prepping him and that he was down to 2:07.
“I got him on April 15 and I schooled him a week before the first time I qualified him (May 7),” said Campbell, who in his career has trained the winners of 779 races and over C$10 million in earnings. “Trevor (driver Trevor Ritchie) schooled him for me and went really well. He went a mile in about 2:04 and he came a back half in :59.
“The day we qualified him he was awesome. He qualified in 1:591 and came a last quarter in :272. He was still kind of green though.”
Since that qualifier, Bertos Dream has gone a perfect three-for-three, even though in his second victory he had to recover from a break before the gate.
“He was really impressive in his start where he broke (before the gate),” Campbell explained. “Trevor had to pull him up to almost a walk. He got him back trotting and he just said that he tapped him once and he took right off. He was about 13 lengths back at the quarter, but just to get that close at that point was something else.”
From the quarter-mile onward, Bertos Dream gobbled up ground and mowed down the field, eventually scoring by a half length in 2:002.
Leaving from the ten hole Monday evening at Woodbine, Bertos Dream showed some grit and took the overland route to score by two and a half lengths in a life’s mark mile of 1:57.
“He basically got parked the whole mile I think,” Campbell said. “He didn’t get to the front until the three-quarter pole. A horse had broken in front of Trevor and so he was hung out there. He sort of said to himself ‘Well, I’m this far out now and I may as well just stay out here instead of taking him back.’ So he just kept on chugging and everything sort of went his way.”
Looking to throw the rest of his division a curve, Bertos Dream will have to get the better of Beardmore and highly-touted Cash Hall if he wants to play the roll of spoiler during the third division (race eight, 10:07 p.m.) on Saturday.
“Physically I’m not worried about him racing against those horses, but mentally I am,” admitted Campbell. “I mean, going to the gate he could chuck his head. He has been lucky -– but he has made his luck -– and the flow has gone his way.
“What has really impressed me about this horse is that he hasn’t really shown any end to him. He just keeps on coming. That’s why I put him in (for Saturday). I asked Trevor how he was (on Monday) and he said he was just sitting on him. He said he still had a lot of horse left.
“Whether he can go or not with these colts we will find out on Saturday. We’re hoping maybe we will catch them off guard a little bit.”
Campbell left the best quote for last though, as he couldn’t stress enough of the effort that Jutras had put into the career winner of four.
“I feel like the relief pitcher coming in and stealing all of the glory after the starter has just thrown seven strong innings.”
Well, if Campbell continues to put in innings and hurl strikes, Bertos Dream may just find himself in the C$300,000 (est.) big dance next weekend.
The complete fields for the three elimination divisions are as follows:
Division One (race one, 7:40 p.m.)
PP – Horse – Listed Driver – Trainer
1 – Mr Battin – T. Strauss – T. Strauss
2 – Castle Of Fortune – R. Pierce – C. Norris
3 – Southwind Elian – B. Sears – K. McDermott
4 – Customize – J. Campbell – D. Simpson
5 – Eilean Donon – T. Sells – R. Stewart
6 – Exelon Lb – T. Smedshammer – T. Smedshammer
7 – El Cassanova – T. Ritchie – G. Bourgon
Division Two (race two, 8:01 p.m.)
PP – Horse – Listed Driver – Trainer
1 – Con Man – T. Sells – R. Stewart
2 – B Cor Kenny – D. Daley – D. Daley
3 – American Mike – R. Pierce – C. Norris
4 – In Conchnito – S. Condren – R. McIntosh
5 – Durgin Hanover – R. Bolon – R. Bolon
6 – Coventry – D. Ackerman – D. Ackerman
7 – Ens Crescendo – T. Smedshammer – T. Smedshammer
8 – Armbro Balance – P. MacDonell – M. Guitard
Division Three (race eight, 10:07 p.m.)
PP – Horse – Listed Driver – Trainer
1 – Justice Hall – W. Odonnell – C. Thomas
2 – Windsongs Legacy – T. Smedshammer – T. Smedshammer
3 – Beardmore – T. Sells – R. Stewart
4 – Bertos Dream – T. Ritchie – C. Campbell
5 – Cash Hall – J. Campbell – R. McIntosh
6 – Uncle Vernon – R. Mayotte – R. Mayotte
7 – Kings Ransom – TBA – S. Kerwood
8 – Sand Vic – P. MacDonell – J. Arledge