from Standardbred Canada

Haul Away pulled the pocket in the stretch and sailed past favorite Twin B Warrior with a flat tire to capture the second edition of the C$472,500 Upper Canada Cup for Ontario sired 3-year-old pacing colts on Saturday, May 29, at Georgian Downs.

After winning his elimination one week ago, Haul Away returned to the Innisfil oval for the track’s signature race and left from the inside post position with Tim Tetrick at the lines. Fellow elim winner and 4-5 favorite Twin B Warrior (Jody Jamieson) looped the early leader before hitting the first quarter in :27.1 and carved out the remaining fractions of :55.4 and 1:23.4.

Wellthereyougo (David Miller) went first over from third down the backstretch with Adrenaline (Mario Baillargeon) angling wide, but Haul Away pulled the pocket and kicked home in :27.4 to prevail by 1-1/4 lengths in a career best 1:51.4. Bp Chimo (Sylvain Filion) rounded out the top three. Haul Away paid $7.60 to win as the 5-2 second choice.

“He just came out of his skin at the top of the lane,” said Tetrick in a post-race interview with Chris Roberts. “The connections had him ready and my job was easy tonight. I got away behind the best horse and my horse ended up being the best in the race.

“I knew I had a great shot,” said Tetrick when asked if he knew if Haul Away could track down the leader. “I was a little worried because going to the five-eighths I had a flat tire. From the top to home I rode on a flat tire and he was still very, very strong. He came out of the hole and did all the work.”

“It’s the biggest race I’ve been in with a shot, and the shot turned into a win,” said trainer David Menary. “Everybody here at Georgian put on a good show and the colt was good. Tim gave him a perfect steer and I’m glad we’re standing here.”

It was a memorable night for the connections, who lost 2009 Upper Canada Cup runner-up and Ontario Sires Stakes star Fast Pay at the start of the year.

“The other guy held a good place in my heart,” said David, choking up. “But this colt is off to a good start this year and hopefully it goes right through to November.”

“I’ll tell you, we had a big year last year with Fast Pay and Haul Away this year,” added Larry Menary, who shares ownership with Denis Breton, Phil Silvestri and Joseph Settimi. “It’s a pretty exciting year for us after Fast Pay last year.

“Tim was just amazing here with the trip he gave him and he looked pretty sharp in the post parade. I’ve got to thank Tim a whole lot for the job he did and flying up from New Jersey to drive this colt tonight. Tim sure deserves a lot of credit and my son David for training. David did one heck of a job and his whole stable that works for him did an amazing job. It’s a lot of hard work for everybody. I’m pretty excited about what’s happened here.”

Haul Away, who won six of his 11 starts and banked nearly C$300,000 at two, is eligible to the $1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup on Saturday, June 26, at Mohawk Racetrack.

After capturing the Upper Canada Cup with Haul Away, driver Tim Tetrick found himself right back in the winner’s circle with the C$115,500 Honourable Earl Rowe Memorial Cup winner Buck I St Pat.

Buck I St Pat fired off the gate from post seven and was at the first quarter in :28.2. As the even-money favorite headed to the half in :58.3, a parked out Armbro Chronicle (Mike Saftic) made a break and eventually pulled up.

Buck I St Pat continued to lead to three-quarters in 1:27 and unleashed a :27.4 final frame to demolish her rivals by seven lengths in 1:54.4. The 32-1 longshot Sand Wyndham (Mario Baillargeon) was the runner-up and Bank President (Trevor Ritchie) rounded out the top three.

Buck I St Pat paid $4.10 to win. The 7-year-old daughter of Jailhouse Jesse-Name It Something is trained by Ron Burke for owners Howard Taylor, Edwin Gold, Abraham Basen and Ron Fuller.

“Howard found her as a 2-year-old in Ohio, and we’ve been racing her now through her 7-year-old season,” said Gold in a post-race interview with Chris Roberts. “Hopefully she stays healthy, and we’ll continue to do that.

“You can read the program and in fact your announcer read the program and kind of picked against her because they expected her to be five or six or seven lengths back but as Timmy does, the master that he is, he put himself in the proper position. She can do it from anywhere, she’s been on the lead. She likes to come from behind but we can do it from the front if we have to.

“I’d like to thank Ronnie Burke and his team, they have done a great job, and Timmy of course for driving her since she’s been a baby. And Dave Palone by the way, who also drove her on a number of occasions as a 2- and 3-year-old and when Timmy can’t make it fills in,” continued Gold. “Everybody’s done a great job, it’s a great partnership. We’ve had a great time and you’ve got a great racetrack here and we thank you for your hospitality.”

The victory was Buck I St Pat’s third in four 2010 starts. Lifetime, she has won 43 times and has banked nearly $1.5 million.