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

Toronto, ON — For Mike Saftic, the 18th annual Cam Fella Series could not have possibly played out any better than it did.

WEG Photo

Hustlin Rustler and Mike Saftic were the winners in the Cam Fella Final.

After the first of the preliminary legs, it seemed like Saftic’s best shot in the final would come with So Lucky Hanover, whom he was a part owner of. But for the second leg and the C$124,500 final, the native of Sudbury would be teamed with the recently-crowned Ontario Boys champion Hustlin Rustler instead of the Camluck gelding.

Pacing a strong final half mile over a lightning-fast Woodbine oval, Saftic brought the son of Rustler Hanover past a tiring Tycoon Hanover in the lane to score in a new stakes record and personal best time of 1:51¹.

Diamond Edition, who had shown throughout the series that he could come on in the late stages, finished one and three-quarter lengths back in second. Domination and driver Steve Condren, who also finished one and three-quarter lengths in arrears, came from seven and a quarter lengths back at the head of the stretch to grab third. Lyons Joseph and Tycoon Hanover picked up the last two cheques.

Leaving from post four, Saftic slipped Hustlin Rustler into the five hole, as Diamond Edition (Paul MacDonell), intent on making the front, cut the opening quarter mile in a blazing :25².

Directly after the first panel flashed, Tycoon Hanover (Luc Ouellette) was sent for a re-take from the pocket. Clearing confidently, Tycoon Hanover led the rest of the field down the backstretch in a :54 half mile.

Nearing the turn, even-money favourite So Lucky Hanover (Chris Christoforou) was tipped out from the four hole. Saftic, still sitting fifth, pulled on Hustlin Rustler’s right line and followed the cover provided by his former investment. Making a confident move, Saftic then sent Hustlin Ruster three-wide charging for the point.

“Going to the quarter I liked the way that things were shaping up,” said Saftic. “Going up the backside I was second-over behind So Lucky. Sometimes he (So Lucky Hanover) struggles in the turn and as soon as he started throwing in some steps I came three-high.”

Tycoon Hanover reached the third quarter in 1:23, but from there didn’t have enough left to repel Hustlin Rustler, who was dead game.

“My horse was riding the right line a little bit towards the end and once I had cleared Luc (Tycoon Hanover) and gotten along the inside I felt good about it.”

Pushing his seasonal earnings to $108,560, Hustlin Rustler, who is out of the Big Towner mare Miffed Hanover, boosted an already impressive yearly resume to 5-2-1 from nine starts.

“It’s been a fast track all night and I thought we’d get down the half in :54 or :55 and we did,” said Saftic, who with the victory notched his first series win of 2004. “This is a quality colt, (1):51 is a nice mile for him.”

With his 11th career score, Hustlin Rustler ($11.00, $5.60, $4.90) was atop a $78.70 exactor and a $1,388.00 triactor with Diamond Edition ($9.10, $5.60) and Domination ($20.10).

“I’m very pleased finishing second,” said Mike Hales, trainer of runner-up Diamond Edition. “He’s such a tiny little horse. He wouldn’t weigh over 700 pounds.”

Afterwards, Saftic commented on the change of ownership regarding So Lucky Hanover.

“Well, there was a partner dispute (between) my partner and Garth (trainer Garth Gordon). There was a sale coming up (Standardbred Canada’s March Madness Sale, which So Lucky Hanover sold for C$160,000) and it just seemed like the right time (to sell).

“The colt was on top of his game and I think we all benefited from it.”

Saftic and Harder hot on Saturday

Mike Saftic held the hot hands on Saturday evening at Woodbine. Just 40 minutes after guiding Hustlin Rustler to victory for conditioner Mark Harder in the C$124,500 final of the Cam Fella Series, Saftic again teamed up with Harder pupil Luckyisasluckydoes to capture the C$48,000 Free For All Pace.

In making his first start since sweeping the Isle Of Capri Series in February at Pompano Park, Luckyisasluckydoes battled millionaire pacesetter Admirals Express for the last three-eighths of the mile before finally securing the decision in 1:50, the fastest mile of the year thus far at Woodbine.

The five year-old Camluck gelding, who is trained by Harder for owners Cliff and Herb Siegel and John Fodera, moved past the $540,000 mark in lifetime earnings.

After the four week layoff, Luckyisasluckydoes didn’t get the respect he deserved, going off at odds of 7-1. He returned $16.20 to win and topped a $534.20 triactor with Admirals Express and third place finisher Yulestar.

The duo scored for the third time in the evening’s tenth dash, as Moxie returned $11.40 on a winning ticket in the mark-equaling mile, which was timed in 1:52¹.

NOTES: Commodity Trader ($50.90, $13.00, $6.20) stopped the clock in a life’s mark of 1:52³ during race six. Driven by Steve Condren for trainer Joe Pereira, the Dexter Nukes gelding topped a $1,201.00 exactor and a $15,825.10 triactor.

Tan Forever seeks Damsel Series title

Sunday afternoon seems to be as good a time as any for Tan Forever to make it four wins in a row, especially since her test is in the C$115,000 final of the Damsel Series at Woodbine.

An unblemished three for three since racing out of the barn of conditioner Joe Stutzman, Tan Forever, slated as the even-money favourite in the morning line odds, has looked strong since being in rein to Woodbine Entertainment’s leading driver Chris Christoforou.

Now in her third full season of racing, the daughter Stand Forever, who is out of the Barberry Spur mare To Be Tan, seems to be right on stride.

The Stephen Sexton-bred bay debuted for Stutzman on March 5 in a conditioned event and wore down the field in a sharp mile clocked in 1:53³. Sitting sixth in the early stages, Christoforou and Tan Forever went for the front after the quarter pole, persevered through the rest of the mile, and eventually notched a one and a quarter length score after pacing a final half mile in :54⁴.

Starting from the rail in the first leg of the Damsel Series, Christoforou spotted Tan Forever in the two hole and the pair eventually made the front before drawing off by three and a half lengths at the wire in a new speed badge of 1:53².

In last week’s second leg, the Ian Fromowitz and Jack Frydman-owned mare displayed some versatility. Tan Forever left from post six and got to the front via a snappy :26⁴ opening frame. She got it her way for the rest of the mile, stopping the clock in 1:55⁴, two and a quarter lengths ahead of her closest rival.

After banking $27,729 in 21 solid starts as a three-year-old, Tan Forever has already deposited a cool $37,804 into her account from merely seven trips in which she has compiled a record of 3-1-2.

“She’s just been really good so far in the series,” said Christoforou, who has already captured the final of both The Count B and Don Mills Series this year. “We had a two hole trip in the first race and we came out of the hole at the head of the lane and she blew right by.

“Last week she wacked it all out and was just killer, so hopefully she continues to race that way.”

Not pulling any punches about how he felt about Tan Forever’s best racing style, Christoforou responded with a well-understanded level of confidence.

“I don’t really think it makes any difference (if she races from up front or off the pace),” said Christoforou, who guided Astreos to Little Brown Jug glory in 2000. “I think she is pretty well equal any way that you race her. I mean, you’d love to cut every mile you could without going fast fractions, but usually in the finals it doesn’t really work that way. There is usually a little bit of speed in the finals, so we will have to play it by ear and see how it goes.”

The complete field (which will be performing from the pre-race retention barn) for the final is as follows:

Race #7 (Post Time 3:11 p.m.)

PP – Horse – Driver – Trainer – Line

1 – Stonebridge Kisses – Ra. Waples – I. Reid – 5-1

2 – Odds On Michelle – L. Ouellette – N. Varty – 5-1

3 – Southwind Laurel – P. MacDonell – R. Laarman – 6-1

4 – Jates Best – R. Mayotte – R. Mayotte – 30-1

5 – Tan Forever – C. Christoforou – J. Stutzman – 1-1

6 – Silver Dollar Star – M. Baillargeon – G. Sutherland – 30-1

7 – Metropolis N – R. Zeron – H. Holland – 30-1

8 – Pronovais – T. Ritchie – D. Fisher – 8-1

9 – Greenwich Villa – Ph. Hudon – W. McNeil – 8-1