by Greg Gangle, WEG Communications
Campbellville, ON — Fourteen of the finest 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters in North America will line up behind the gate for this year’s Canadian Trotting Classic eliminations, this Saturday (Sept. 7) at Mohawk.
With two eliminations taking place, the top five finishers from each race will advance to the C$700,000 final on Saturday (Sept. 14) at the Campbellville oval.
New Image Media photo
Goodtimes champion Flanagan Memory will score from post two in the first CTC elimination.
Flanagan Memory, who captured the Goodtimes Trot earlier this year at Mohawk, will leave from post two in the first elimination.
The Rene Dion-trainee has banked $248,930 this season, but will face a tough test as he’ll square off against Hambletonian winner Royalty For Life.
“There are two small fields for the eliminations, which always helps,” Dion said. “My horse is coming into the race in very good shape, but he’ll have his work cut out for him. It’s never an easy task racing at this level and he’ll have to put his best foot forward.”
The son of Kadabra made an uncharacteristic break in his last start, but made a great recovery to find the wire first in 1:56.
“I’m not exactly sure why he did that,” Dion said. “The only thing I can think of is because he had the rail and was maybe looking around. Usually he draws outside and has horses on both sides of him. I’m happy with the two hole.”
Flanagan Memory has raced eight times this season and eight times last year, but the results have been quite different.
“He just had to grow up and mature, that was his biggest thing,” Dion explained, about last season. “Last year he would make breaks and such and this year, he’s grown into a man. He went from a boy last year to a man this year.”
Flanagan Memory has crafted an impressive 7-2-1 record in his career along with $288,521 in earnings for Dion, who shares ownership with Liette Flanagan.
Chris Christoforou is listed to steer once again.
Hambletonian champion Royalty For Life will headline the first elimination for trainer George Ducharme. The son of RC Royalty has banked $874,850 this season along with a 5-1-0 record from nine starts.
Owned by Alfred Ross, Raymond Campbell and Paul Fontaine, Royalty For Life has won five of his last six starts. He’ll leave from post five in the first elimination with Brian Sears aboard.
Corky, trained by Jimmy Takter, will headline the other elimination.
A winner of $660,191 this season, the son of Muscles Yankee has crafted a 4-5-3 record from 13 2013 starts, along with $887,488 in his career. Corky will begin from post one with regular pilot David Miller.
With two eliminations set for Saturday evening, the top five finishers will advance to the lucrative final.
The field will line up as follows:
Race 2
1. Your So Vain
2. Flanagan Memory
3. Smilin Eli
4. All Laid Out
5. Royalty For Life
6. Pine Credit
7. Murmur Hanover
Race 3
1. Corky
2. Gotta Secret
3. Toocool Forschool
4. Fico
5. Master Of Law
6. Punxsutawney
7. Wheeling N Dealin
- Master Of Law is on a roll heading into Canadian Trotting Classic (Friday, September 06, 2013)
Master Of Law is a 3-year-old gelding trotter with tremendous physical attributes and a ton of talent. He just needed a little attitude adjustment.