by Mark McKelvie, WEG Communications

Campbellville, ON — The conditions might have been a bit chilly, but Etruscan Hanover was sizzling Saturday night (April 25) to a Don Mills stakes record at Mohawk.

A field of eight 4- and 5-year-old trotters took to the track Saturday evening for the C$44,400 final of the Don Mills Trotting Series. The series finale appeared to be a competitive contest on paper, but Etruscan Hanover would turn the final into his own personal showcase.

New Image Media photo

Etruscan Hanover set a stakes record of 1:52.2 in the Don Mills.

Driven by Mario Baillargeon, Etruscan Hanover sprinted off the gate to the front and posted a speedy opening quarter of :26.4. The fast first quarter would be a sign of things to come, as Etruscan Hanover carved out fractions of :55.1 and 1:24 to bring the field into the stretch.

Bourbon Bay, the 4-5 favorite, appeared to be getting a nice two-hole trip in behind the leader, but would be no match for Etruscan Hanover in the lane.

Etruscan Hanover and Baillargeon trotted home in :28.2 to score a 3-1/4 length victory over Bourbon Bay and established a new Don Mills stakes record of 1:52.2. Exemplar finished third, while Wild And Crazy Guy was fourth.

A 5-year-old son of Donato Hanover, Etruscan Hanover is trained by Ben Baillargeon, who shares ownership with Santo and Nunzio Vena and Claude Hamel.

The gelding trotter has had breaking issues throughout his career, but continually posts successful results when he minds his manners. Etruscan Hanover now has a record of three wins from nine starts this season.

The Don Mills final triumph is the tenth career victory for the Baillargeon trainee and increases his bankroll to more than C$87,000. The stakes record clocking of 1:52.2 knocks more than three seconds off Etruscan Hanover’s previous career mark. A $2 win ticket on Etruscan Hanover returned $6.80.

In order to be eligible to the Don Mills series, the 4- and 5-year-old trotters had to be non-winners of C$150,000 lifetime as of Dec. 31, 2014.

J Js Delivery shot up the rail late to pull off a 23-1 upset in the first leg of The Diplomat Saturday night at Mohawk. A field of nine 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings lined up Saturday for the first round of The Diplomat series.

J Js Delivery and driver James MacDonald were the quickest off the gate and posted a solid opening quarter of :26.1. American Rock, the Youthful series winner and 9-5 second choice, was parked around the first turn and would overtake the lead as the field rolled into the backstretch.

The Wayfaring Man, the 3-2 favorite, came charging first up from fourth around the final turn to tango with the leader down to the three-quarter pole in 1:25.1.

In the stretch, Good Friday Three came off the cover of The Wayfaring Man to pace by the leaders and appeared to be on his way to victory. However, MacDonald would find room up the rail in deep stretch to allow J Js Delivery to charge through and score a victory over Good Friday Three in 1:52.2. Star Cover come on late to finish third, while The Wayfaring Man and American Rock had to settle for fourth and fifth, respectively.

A son of Jereme’s Jet, J Js Delivery was making his second start for new trainer Dave Menary Saturday night. The 3-year-old gelding is now two-for-two out of the Menary barn and has a record of three wins from five starts in 2015. J Js Delivery, who is owned by Robert Hamather, now has five career victories and earnings of C$66,686. The clocking of 1:52.2 drops more than a full second off the gelding’s previous career mark. J Js Delivery paid $49.50 to win.

In order to be eligible to The Diplomat, the sophomore pacing colts and geldings had to be non-winners of C$100,000 in 2014. The second leg of The Diplomat will take place next Saturday (May 2).