by Jeff Renton, Woodbine Entertainment Group

Campbellville, April 12, 2004… If you had circled trotters trained by Susanne Kerwood in Monday’s Mohawk program, you would have come out smelling like a rose.

Samurai Hall and Kings Ransom – both owned by Kitchener, Ontario’s Ed Radin – swept the C$18,000 opening leg of the Tie Silk Series for three-year-olds.

Going to the front from a late quarter-pole move, Samurai Hall ($3.40, $2.80, $2.60) and driver Mario Baillargeon tripped the timer in a life’s mark of 1:59 in the first division.

After Americanadian posted a 28-second opening quarter-mile, Samurai Hall passed the half-mile marker in :59.4 and the three-quarters pole in 1:30.1 before coming home with a :28.4 final frame.

“I didn’t really want to race him in front, but he’s pretty hot,” Baillargeon said of the son of Garland Lobell—Second Act. “I saw that Rod Hennessy’s colt [Americanadian] was wandering on the first turn, so I pulled right back [to the lead]. He [Samurai Hall] settled down and came home well. I didn’t even take the [ear] plugs out.”

“He’s a Garland Lobell and I drove a lot of Garland Lobells from him being in Quebec for a lot of years,” Baillargeon said of the gelding. “He [Samurai Hall] is pretty hot, but it seemed tonight that he settled down. He was hotter in the qualifier [Apr. 6 at Mohawk] than he was tonight, so I think maybe next week he’ll be a little calmer.”

Onondaga Kid ($10.10, $5.20) was two lengths back in second and was the bottom half of a $41.50 exactor. Splendid Les ($4.80) finished 3½-lengths back in third and completed a $219.50 triactor.

Another late quarter-pole move was the decisive point in the second division, as Kings Ransom ($4.40, $3.00, $2.50) and driver Mike Saftic ended the proceedings in 1:59.1.

Mr Battin recorded the opening quarter-mile in :28.4 before Kings Ransom put in 1:00.2 and 1:30.1 middle fractions. The son of King Conch—Pepper Pike came his final quarter-mile in 29 seconds flat.

“He’s a green colt, but we have raced him both ways and he has responded great both times,” said Saftic. “I just floated him out, just seeing if I could get in front of a couple [of horses]. There was a bunch of breakers, so I ended up landing in the three-hole. I chirped to him when we came out of the hole and he drove right onto the front.

“He’s got a nice big gait like a Balance Image [his maternal grandsire], but he has got some good manners from the King Conch side.”

Kings Ransom ($4.40, $3.00, $2.50) finished two lengths in front of Mr Battin ($3.80, $2.40) and topped a $15.40 exactor. Logan Lorne ($3.20) was 5¾-lengths back in third and finished the $36.30 triactor.

The C$18,000 second leg of the Tie Silk Series is scheduled for next Monday, April 19.