by Greg Gangle, WEG media

Toronto, ON — After scoring a pair of victories in their respective eliminations last week, owner/breeder Stuart Bolender and trainer Tan Micallef completed the 1-2 punch on Thursday night (Jan. 13) by finishing first and second in the C$60,000 Blizzard Stakes final at Woodbine Racetrack.

With the victory, Bolender celebrated his biggest payday as an owner/breeder.

New Image Media photo

Hustleonhome was a 1:54 winner in the C$60,000 Blizzard Stakes final.

In the early going, Keystone Nobility (Mark MacDonald) left aggressively from post 10 to strike the front ahead of Lucky Cheryl (Mario Baillargeon) and Windows Online (Anthony Haughan) at the quarter in :27. As the field marched towards the half, Hustleonhome (Sylvain Filion), who was positioned fourth, angled to the outside and cleared to the front and led her rivals past the half in :57 and three-quarters in 1:25.

Around the final turn, Hustleonhome’s stablemate, Hat Trick Honey (Roger Mayotte) angled to the outside and the two fillies were only strides apart at the top of the stretch. Hustlonehome and Hat Trick Honey began to separate themselves from their rivals but it was pacesetter Hustleonhome securing the victory over Hat Trick Honey in 1:54, with Wish Away (Chris Christoforou) finishing third.

Hustleonhome, a daughter of Million Dollar Cam, scored her third career victory as her earnings increased to C$89,590. She paid $4.00 for the win.

Bolender, a resident of Elora, Ontario, also made headlines earlier this week as his retired broodmare, Ronniejo Hanover had broken through a wooden lid, slipped through a two-foot square opening into an underground water storage tank and was trapped.

Ronniejo Hanover was contending with shock and hypothermia as well as suffering abrasions and swelling during the three-hour ordeal. After being rescued by over a dozen firefighters, she was unable to walk; therefore, it required a tractor and a front-end loader to pick her up and transport her to her barn where she was treated by a local veterinarian.

Now, three days later, Bolender told WEG’s media department that Ronniejo Hanover is recovering nicely. To watch the interview with Bolender prior to Thursday night’s victory on the Woodbine Entertainment website, click here.