by Jeff Renton, media/communications, the Woodbine Entertainment Group

Campbellville, ON —Owner Ian Fleming was on hand at Mohawk on Monday evening to see his three-year-old Garland Lobell gelding Mr Battin knock heads during the C$49,800 final of the Tie Silk Series. In rein to his trainer Tom Strauss, Mr Battin didn’t disappoint, as he cruised to a one and a quarter length victory in 1:59³ over a track rated one second off.

Victorious only once in 11 career tries heading into the final, Mr Battin had finished second in each of the series’ preliminary tests. He had chased Kings Ransom to the wire in the opening leg and Red Flamethrower proved to be too much to handle the following week.

WEG Photo

Mr Battin rallied on the outside to win the Tie Silk Series Final.

Leaving from post seven at odds of 10-1, Mr Battin and Strauss tucked into second early on as Samurai Hall — part of an imposing entry from trainer Susie Kerwood’s barn -– led the 10 horse field to the quarter-mile pole, which was passed in :28³.

The other highly-regarded part of Kerwood’s entry, Kings Ransom, made breaks along the backstretch and put himself far out of contention the rest of the way.

Popping out and advancing from fifth, driver Jody Jamieson and Red Flamethrower attacked Samurai Hall’s lead before the next call was reached. Parked-out by a length when Samurai Hall logged the :59² half-mile, Red Flamethrower had cleared to the front as the final turned loomed.

Now in the three hole, Strauss tipped Mr Battin out at the beginning of the turn for his own shot at the leader. Red Flamethrower tripped the third- quarter timer in 1:29¹ as Strauss and his student were gaining speed, one and a quarter lengths back on the outside.

From there on in it was all Mr Battin. Out of the Brisco Hanover mare Borne Jupiter, Mr Battin ($22.90, $8.20, $4.00) had a one length lead by the head of the stretch and tacked on another quarter length for good measure. Onandaga Kid ($6.70, $3.50) was second and Samurai Hall ($2.10) finished third, no less than seven lengths back when all was decided. My Last Buck and Red Flamethrower -– who had both triumphed in initial legs –- finished fourth and fifth respectively.

“He had always showed me that he could leave a little and get a good position and that he was good-gaited. He has always done everything that I have asked of him,” Strauss said of Mr Battin, who with the victory banked more than he did in his entire two-year-old campaign.

“He got a good trip. And like I said, he wasn’t the best horse in the race ability-wise, but he got some breaks and it paid off for him,” said Flemming. “Ross Battin had bought the mare for me in foal, so we named the first colt after him.”

Eligible to the Goodtimes Stakes (on North America Cup night, June 19 at Woodbine), Mr Battin raised his 2004 earnings to $32,790 via the score that improved his seasonal record to 2-2-0 from six starts. After 12 career starts, Mr Battin now has $49,517 in earnings for Fleming, who is a resident of Londesborough, Ontario.

What exactly is a “Billabong”?

Seeing the name “Billabong” splashed all over trendy surfer garments for what seems like years now has probably never incited one to look the term up in the old dictionary. Yet, after scanning Tuesday’s program for Mohawk Racetrack and coming across Billabong — who is scheduled to perform in the C$18,000 second leg of the Celias Counsel Series — something had to give.

Jeff Renton Photo

Chris Caputo bathes Billabong in her stall.

One of the definitions for the Australian term is “a stagnant pool or backwater.” Yet, after visiting with the three-year-old bay filly Saturday morning in the Mohawk backstretch, it is safe to say that equine version knows nothing of stagnation.

After she and her trainer John Burns went for a trip on the Mohawk seven-eighths, Billabong let the suds fly when being bathed down by her handler Chris Caputo.

“She has a good pedigree and comes from a good trotting family,” Burns said of Billabong, who is a Mr Lavec trotter out of the Balanced Image mare Kiwi.

“I bought her in Harrisburg and I believe I gave $27 or $28,000 for her,” said Burns, who owns Billabong in partnership with fellow Ontario residents Peter Berry, Peter Leung and Ohio’s Patrick Huber. “When I saw her on display there I really liked her confirmation — the way she stood and her size.”

Billabong didn’t exactly turn heads throughout her two-year-old season, although her last two starts of 2003 produced on the board results during O.S.S. Grass Roots events. Having not been a factor in her first four dashes last year, she finished in third, one and three-quarter lengths back in her fifth start, a C$20,727 event at Sarnia’s Hiawatha Horse Park on September 27. On October 12 at Windsor Raceway, she finished second during another C$20,727 test, her last of the year.

“So far she is just a filly and hasn’t really shown anything great,” continued Burns. “But she has shown some flashes of speed. Since she was a growthy filly we hoped she would carry her speed a little bit more. She’ll get better.”

In her first start back, during last week’s opening leg, the Canquest Stables-bred was placed up to third from fourth after having to face off against Armbro Balandra and driver Steve Condren.

“In her last start she (Billabong) came home in :29¹,” said Burns. “I think she was in the toughest division last week. Armbro Balandra is in the other division this time, she just did it so easy last week. She drew away from them and Condren didn’t even have to ask her.”

The action in Tuesday’s second leg of the Celias Counsel will start early, as races one (7:40 p.m.) and two (7:59 p.m.) will showcase the two divisions.

When Billabong was being bathed Saturday, Caputo was asked if all was okay for photos of the filly to be taken. He responded that maybe it would help her find the winner’s circle.

The jury is still out, but time will soon tell.

The complete fields for Tuesday’s divisions are as follows:

Division 1

PP – Horse – Driver – Trainer – Line

1 -Very Violet – R. Battin – F. O’Reilly – 15-1

2 -Lemehavit – W. Henry – R. Henry – 20-1

3 -Armbro Bedevil – Ph. Hudon – Ro. Waples – 20-1

4 -Raising The Bar – Ra. Waples – T. Durand – 10-1

5 -Warrawee Fergie – J. Jamieson – C. Jamieson – 4-1

6 -Armbro Balandra – S. Condren – D. Delaney – 1-1

7 -Desi Sweet Sixteen – Da. Wall – J. Bax – 12-1

8 -Bali Blue Chip – C. Christoforou – J. Stutzman – 6-1

9 -La Joyeuse Mor – M. Saftic – S. Kerwood – 8-1

Division 2

PP – Horse – Driver – Trainer – Line

1 -Windsong Anastasia – Ra. Waples – P. Skjaker – 5-1

2 -Billabong – M. Baillargeon – J. Burns – 8-1

3 -Kittys Belle – R. Robinson – R. Robinson – 20-1

4 -Armbro Bedouin – K. Oliver – J. Kopas – 15-1

5 -Armbro Beseech – R. Mayotte – R. Young – 2-1

6 -Yoko Hanover – L. Ouellette – Ro. Waples – 7-1

7 -Hawaiian Viva – J. Jamieson – C. Jamieson – 9-2

8 -French Brocade – S. Condren – S. Kerwood – 12-1

9 -Stacelita – Ph. Hudon – G. Barr – 7-2