Dont Rush looks to continue exceeding expectations in Trotting Classic
September 18, 2015,by Mark McKelvie, WEG Communications
Campbellville, ON — Dustin Jones was hopeful Dont Rush could be an Ontario Sire Stakes Grassroots trotter heading into his 2-year-old season. More than $360,000 in earnings later, the son of Infinitif will start from post two in Saturday’s (Sept. 19) C$700,000 Canadian Trotting Classic.
Dont Rush won four of 11 starts last season, including his final start in the $222,500 Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final. Co-owned and bred by Dustin Jones Stable Inc., Dont Rush has been a pleasant surprise for his conditioner.
Michael Burns photo
Dont Rush and trainer Dustin Jones prepare for the Canadian Trotting Classic Wednesday morning at Classy Lane Training Centre.
“I was hoping he was going to be a good grassrooter as a 2-year-old,” said Jones. “He ended up being way better than I thought he was going to be.”
After a strong 2-year-old season, Jones had plans for Dont Rush to explore the Grand Circuit and race in harness racing’s most prestigious trot, but those plans changed early this season.
“I was hoping that he would be one of the top Ontario sired and maybe race him in the Hambletonian,” said Jones. “But I found out early that he wasn’t able to trot in 1:51.”
Dont Rush has stayed close to home this season and won three of nine starts, including two Gold events, for earnings of $93,061. While the Jones trainee has proven to be a top performer on the track, the sophomore trotter isn’t the most intimidating in person.
“He’s not a very big horse and if you look at him in the paddock you would be quite surprised how small he is,” Jones said. “He sort of pumps himself up on the track when he is hooked up, but he is what he is.”
The son of Infinitif has stepped up to tackle Grand Circuit trotters in his last two starts and finished fourth in both attempts, including last Saturday’s Canadian Trotting Classic elimination.
Dont Rush had to avoid a breaking horse at the top of the stretch, which may have cost him a third-place finish, but Jones was happy with the effort.
“I thought he raced alright. I think he trotted his last half in :55.4 and with the two-hole I’m hoping to get a check.”
Dont Rush is entering the Canadian Trotting Classic as a longshot against the four-horse Jimmy Takter trained juggernaut, but when the big money is on the line anything can happen.
“I’m hoping they go a little faster fractions to the first half and then maybe he has a chance to pick up a check at the end,” said Jones, who will have Chris Christoforou handling the driving duties.
Following the Canadian Trotting Classic, Dont Rush will finish off the Ontario Sires Stakes schedule, before taking another crack at the sport’s top 3-year-olds.
“I think he still has a good shot to win the Super Final,” said Jones. “He’s got a Gold here (Mohawk) on the 28th and then the Super Final and then we will probably try him in the Breeders Crown.”
Dont Rush will look to become the first Ontario sired winner of the Canadian Trotting Classic since Daylon Magician in 2011.
For a look at Saturday’s entries at Mohawk, click here.
- C$2.7 million Maple Leaf Trot and Canadian Trotting Classic card drawn (Tuesday, September 15, 2015)
The bright lights will be shining on the finest trotters Saturday at Mohawk Racetrack for the C$2.7 million Maple Leaf Trot and Canadian Trotting Classic card. Both storied events, the Maple Leaf Trot will be contested for the 64th time, while the Canadian Trotting Classic, Canada’s richest trotting event, will crown a 40th champion on Saturday.
- Big Mohawk card highlights this week’s Grand Circuit schedule (Wednesday, September 16, 2015)
The bright lights will be shining on the finest trotters Saturday at Mohawk Racetrack for the C$2.7 million Maple Leaf Trot and Canadian Trotting Classic card.
- Hans Enggren’s “resolve” to get Resolve has paid off (Wednesday, September 16, 2015)
Hans Enggren was unfamiliar with Resolve the first time he saw the trotter during the winter between the horse’s 2- and 3-year-old seasons. He knew, though, at that very moment, he wanted to buy the colt. It was more than eight months before Enggren was successful, but it has proved worth the wait.
- Alagna eyes Peaceful Way title with Caprice Hill (Wednesday, September 16, 2015)
After a visit to Hanover Shoe Farms to preview yearlings for the Harrisburg sale last year, trainer Tony Alagna left with only one yearling on his mind. In search of a trotting filly for owner Tom Hill of Hamilton, Ontario, he believed he had found the best one at Harrisburg. Purchased for $55,000 at the sale, Caprice Hill has bankrolled $132,413 in six starts so far this year.
- Bee A Magician vs. the boys will be a nail-biter for Hartman (Wednesday, September 16, 2015)
When Ontario sired super mare Bee A Magician turns to the starting gate Saturday in the C$680,000 final of the 63rd edition of the Maple Leaf Trot at Mohawk Racetrack, her part-owner Mel Hartman will be biting his nails watching the race on TV from his Ottawa home.
- Delaware, Mohawk preview on Morning Line (Thursday, September 17, 2015)
A preview of Saturday’s big Grand Circuit card at Mohawk Racetrack and a look ahead to next week’s Little Brown Jug at Delaware, is featured on this week’s episode of Morning Line, the USTA’s new weekly video news magazine. As part of our Little Brown Jug preview, co-host Allison Conte made a ‘day trip’ to Delaware and talked with trainer Brian Brown, who will start Lost For Words in the Sept. 24 third leg of the Pacing Triple Crown.
- “I can’t believe how far he’s come” (Thursday, September 17, 2015)
Ron Burke says he was all wrong about Southwind Frank. But with the way the horse has raced, the trainer is feeling alright. Southwind Frank is the 2-5 morning line favorite in Saturday’s C$373,000 William Wellwood Memorial for 2-year-old male trotters at Mohawk Racetrack. The colt has won seven of eight career races — all stakes events — and enters Saturday with a six-race win streak.
- Danielle Hall improving heading into Elegantimage (Friday, September 18, 2015)
All eyes will be on Mission Brief in Saturday’s Elegantimage Stakes at Mohawk, but Danielle Hall is slowly starting to find the stride that banked her $483,691 as a 2-year-old.