by Mark McKelvie – WEG Communications

Campbellville, ON — Father Patrick, the 1-5 choice with driver Yannick Gingras, scored a popular 1-3/4 length victory in the C$682,000 Canadian Trotting Classic Saturday at Mohawk Racetrack.

Trainer Jimmy Takter held more than a strong hand going into this year’s renewal for 3-year-old trotters, sending out Hambletonian winner Trixton, a son of 2009 Classic winner Muscle Hill and Father Patrick, last year’s divisional champion who had been expected to win the Meadowlands showcase event in August but made an unexpected early break.

The toteboard reflected that, as Father Patrick was 1-5, Trixton 9-5 when they went behind the gate, while their five rivals ranged from 18-1 to 80-1.

The two favorites, both of whom had won eight of their 10 starts this year, were expected to duke it out but this time it was Trixton, driven by Takter, who went off-stride at the start to eliminate himself.

It wasn’t a walk in the park but the win at least put aside the nightmare of this year’s Hambletonian for Father Patrick, a son of Cantab Hall-Gala Dream.

Parked in fourth for the first half-mile, as Damfoolrmillionair took the field through a quarter in :26.4 and the half in :55.2, Gingras sent Father Patrick up to challenge the pacesetter, took over before the three-quarters was reached in 1:24, then powered home for the win in 1:52.4. E L Titan came on for second, with Harper Blue Chip third.

Owned by the Father Patrick Stable, of which Torontonian John Fielding is a partner, Father Patrick had won 15 straight prior to his gaffe in the Hambletonian.

Since then, he’d won two of three and was hammered down to the heavy favorite in the Classic.

“It’s definitely huge (winning the Canadian Trotting Classic),” said Gingras. “That race (Hambletonian) is one I’d like to forget. He’s a great horse. From here on out, I think he’ll be the best horse, no doubt. He went a huge trip. He was out the whole way, never saw the rail. When I made my move, it was never in doubt.”

Added Fielding, “It was just a fantastic effort tonight. We’ve always thought this colt was the best colt I’ve ever owned. Jimmy, his wife Christina and myself have owned many, many great horses over the years. But this colt ranks up as probably number one of all of them. It was disappointing at the Hambletonian but tonight he was fantastic. It was just a great thrill. Tonight he showed himself well.”

With the win, Father Patrick went well over the $1 million in earnings for the season and is now closing in on the $2 million mark in career earnings.

Prior to tonight, six of the last 10 winners of the Canadian Trotting Classic, including the last two (Royalty For Life in 2013, Market Share in 2012) had also prevailed in the storied Hambletonian.

Takter previously won the Classic on two occasions, but surprisingly it had been awhile. Kadabra took the 2002 edition while Red Xing won in 1997.

Father Patrick paid $2.70, $2.10 (no show wagering), combining with E L Titan ($14.60) for a $45.80 (6-1) exactor. A 6-1-2 (Harper Blue Chip) triactor was worth $158.10 while a $1 Superfecta [6-1-2-7 (Damfoolrmillioinair)] came back $282.20.