Mister Big lives up to his name in Dream Maker Final
August 10, 2005,by Jeff Renton, media/communications, Woodbine Entertainment Group
Campbellville, ON — He drew the 10 hole and raced from the back of the pack, but when the dust settled from the C$50,000 final of the Dream Maker Series for two-year-old pacers, Mister Big ($4.50, $3.50, $3.50) found himself in the winner’s circle on Tuesday evening at Mohawk.
After making a strong first-over march, which began in the second quarter-mile of the dash, the Grinfromeartoear colt persevered to nail the wire in 1:54 for driver Phil Hudon and conditioner Tim Pinske.
“It didn’t turn out very well, but we didn’t want to use him early — he has a long future,” said Hudon of Mister Big, who is owned by Minnesota’s Pinske Stables along with Kentuckiana Racing Stable and Tom Crouch of Kentucky. “I was hoping to get some cover, but it just didn’t work, so I tucked in around the last turn for a piece and then it worked out well.”
Mister Big, a bay colt out of the Jate Lobell mare World’s Sweetheart, notched a quarter length victory over Faust Blue Chip ($6.70, $4.10) and driver Mike Saftic, who closed hard from fifth at the third call to bottom the $51.00 exactor. Finishing four and three-quarter lengths back in third after collaring Ramblin Bunny and driver Mark MacDonald near the wire, Spudcam ($9.20), in rein to Randy Waples, completed the $853.10 triactor.
“He’s very versatile and definitely has the ability to be a good horse,” said Hudon, referring to Mister Big, who with the win increased his resume to 2-1-0 and $30,772 in earnings from his fourth career start.
“He should’ve been a little tired, and he was a little tired. Saftic was coming on pretty well, but he just kept digging to the wire,” Hudon said of Mister Big, who was a $55,000 yearling purchase at the Kentucky Standardbred Sale in October of 2004.
Early action in the mile saw Just Jate and driver Roger Mayotte race three-wide to the opening quarter, which was clicked off in :27.2 by Ramblin Bunny and driver Mark MacDonald. After avoiding a breaker (Runaway Jack and driver Marcel Barrieau), Just Jate cleared to the pylons, but was instantly engaged by Ramblin Bunny, who was determined to reclaim the front. Ramblin Bunny raced to the front again just past the :56.1 half-mile marker.
Mister Big had sat nine lengths off the pace at the quarter-mile before going first-over and was leading the charge overland by the time he was charted sixth, seven lengths from the lead, at the half-mile. Briefly tucking in behind Ramblin Bunny at the 1:25 three-quarter marker, Hudon pulled his charge back out and they fought hard the rest of the way home.
“Down in Florida he was always training with our top set, so we were expecting big things,” said assistant trainer Darryl Langstone, a resident of Milton, Ontario. “He’s staked to the Metro (Metro Pace, September 17 at Mohawk), as well as all the other big ones and obviously the Ontario Sires Stakes program.”