Monte America well represented in RUS Ontario race

from RUS Ontario

Sarnia, ON — For the first time in RUS Ontario history, American trainers, horses and riders came across the border to race.

On Saturday (Sept. 12) at Hiawatha Horse Park in Sarnia, Ontario, the Americans invaded. Alas the home team held firm and took home the top four spots.

With three strong American based teams entered, including two-time RUS winner Funny Photo, New York County Fair standout Glorious Winner and 2014 U.S top earning Monte horse A Penny Earned, the race was drawn as a handicap and the American horses found themselves saddled with the five, six and seven post positions, but it was the formidable Canadian duo of Tragically Shipp and Natalie Elliott that found themselves furthest out in the eight spot.

As the field swept away from the gate local hopeful Twin B Excalibur and rider Evelyn Harms trotted smartly out to the lead, but a quick look over their shoulder confirmed there would be no rest for them as 2014 high point horse and rider team Radical Dreamer and Marit Valstad thundered by to take the point.

Still the lead was not settled; trotting hard in the middle of the track and bearing down on the lead was Tragically Shipp and season’s leading rider Natalie Elliott. Passing the three-quarter marker in 1:31 the tandem stretched out their lead by four lengths and looked to be home free.

However, Marielle Enberg and Hidden Identity had other ideas as they slipped out of the pack and began an assault on the leaders. The rally was courageous and earned the pair a strong second place finish. Hidden Identity, making his first under saddle start, is trained by Pat Hudon and owned in partnership with William Cripps and Charles Gazzola. Grabbing the third spot was Ale Ale Jandro, owned and trained by Jim Tropea, with Brit Kennedy in the irons.

Rounding out the top five were RUS veteran Twin B Excalibur and top American RUS horse A Penny Earned with U.S. rider Heather Reese reining for Hambletonian winning trainer George Ducharme.

Tragically Shipp and Natalie Elliott recorded their second straight win to add another chapter to a Cinderella story. Tragically Shipp arrived on the RUS scene in 2014 and immediately served notice he was a serious under saddle horse by winning his first RUS start and dead heating for the win in another in only three starts. Sadly he suffered a serious racing injury that could have ended his racing career. However his connections, owners Lynne and David Magee, as well as trainer Lee Watson, believed their horse could overcome his injury and mustering all the patience imaginable they gave their prize RUS horse all the time he needed. Tragically Shipp has rewarded them handsomely with a return to the races in 2015 that sees him undefeated in two starts.

RUS Ontario’s next race is the Harlequin Invitational, named in honor of the timeless Ontario sired star Harlequin, who dominated in the harness for many seasons and re-emerged as a star in under saddle racing. The race will be held in conjunction with Ontario Sire Stakes Grassroots finals night on Sept. 26 at Mohawk Racetrack and will feature a C$10,000 purse.

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