by Jeff Renton, media/communications, Woodbine Entertainment Group

Campbellville, ON — Gregg McNair trainee Eagle Luck ($3.40, $2.90, $2.20) kicked off the Simcoe Stakes for 3-year-old pacing colts on Saturday evening (September 9) at Mohawk by going a big trip in the first C$135,002 division.

WEG Photo

Eagle Luck was a 1:50.4 winner in his Simcoe Stakes division.

With pilot Luc Ouellette at his controls, the Camluck colt left from post four and got parked past the hot :25.4 opening quarter-mile. Clearing to the lead before the :54.3 half-mile indicator, the nine-time career winner clicked off the three-quarters in 1:22.3 and held off all comers in the lane before freezing the timer in 1:50.4.

With the effort, Eagle Luck now has a seasonal record of seven wins, two seconds, and a pair of third place finishes from 17 starts.

“He’s not as quick as some of them getting off the gate, but he certainly is long-winded,” Ouellette said after the dash. “Around the last turn I took a hold of him a little bit, and he seemed to have plenty left.”

Having worked out a second-over trip and grinding late, Armbro Dynamic ($6.70, $4.30) and driver John Campbell finished second, beaten one and three-quarter lengths, and bottomed the $22.10 exactor. Logical Thrill ($7.20) and driver Chris Christoforou finished third, also one and three-quarter lengths in arrears, and rounded out the $298.50 triactor.

Eagle Luck is owned by Frank Dettore of North Ridgeville, Ohio.

Armbro Deuce is heading to Jug full of steam

Armbro Deuce ($4.00, $2.70, $2.20) kept on rolling for driver George Brennan and trainer Blair Burgess on Saturday evening at Mohawk, as the 2006 Confederation Cup winner stopped the clock in 1:51.2 in the night’s final C$135,002 Simcoe Stakes division for 3-year-old pacing colts. Doonbeg ($3.30, $2.10) and driver Jody Jamieson closed strongly, but finished one and three-quarter lengths in arrears and bottomed the $9.40 exactor. Mr Feelgood ($2.50) and pilot Mark MacDonald rounded out the $27.60 triactor.

“It’s definitely the right time of year (for him to be getting sharp),” Brennan said afterwards. “He hasn’t gone a bad race for me yet. He’s done everything that I’ve asked of him and I hope it continues.

“I think he’s very versatile. I can race him any way, and that’s a good quality as a racehorse.”

The fractions were put up in :28, :55.4 and 1:24, respectively, before the Little Brown Jug-bound Western Ideal colt came home in :27.2 for his fifth career victory.