by Bruce Murray, media/communications, the Woodbine Entertainment Group
Campbellville, ON — World champion pacer Eternal Camnation put on her normal world class show to lead the parade of stakes winners on Saturday evening’s final program of Mohawk Racetrack’s Spring Meet.
The incomparable seven-year-old daughter of Cam Fella came from last to first to capture the $255,300 Classic Distaff, one of four Classic Series championships on the program.
With driver Eric Ledford at the helm, Eternal Camnation got away last in the eight horse field, then gradually chiseled her way into striking position as the Classic fields competed at the unusual distance of a mile and three-eighths. Ledford tipped three-wide around horses heading into the last turn to take dead aim at leader Bunny Lake, who eclipsed the mile in 1:522. Turning into the stretch, it was down to the two longtime rivals, and though Bunny Lake, with John Campbell, continued to fight tenaciously, she couldn’t hold off the determined Eternal Camnation. She completed the journey in a world record time of 2:352 to prevail by a length.
“She’s a beast,” said Ledford of Eternal Camnation, who won her second straight Classic Distaff title. “There’s simply no quit in her. “She’s just unbelievable.”
The richest female pacer in harness racing history boosted her earnings to $3,570,992 with the $127,650 first place prize.
“I’m around her every day of her life and she still continues to amaze me,” said trainer and co-owner Jeff Miller of the Eternal Camnation Stable. “She’s such a great athlete. Period.”
Sent off as the 5-2 second choice behind eventual third place finisher Burning Point, Eternal Camnation returned $7.30 for her 45th lifetime tally.
As popular as Eternal Camnation’s victory was to the large crowd on hand, hometown hero Ron Waples received a rousing ovation after piloting JM Vangogh to a mild upset in the $255,300 Trotting Classic for male horses.
Under a masterful steer from Waples, JM Vangogh resided in mid-pack for five-eighths of a mile, then began his journey towards the front. The four-year-old son of Earl was in top stride turning into the stretch and overtook Elegant Man in the final eighth to finish in a time of 2:393.
“He’s such a gutsy little guy. He’s just the gamest little guy there is. He gives it his all every time out,” said Waples of Guelph, who also trains JM Vangogh for owners Paul Chambers of Delaware and John Mello of Maine.
The $255,300 Classic Oaks for trotting mares produced a surprise ending when Stroke Play, who looked to be second best, shocked favourite Windylane Hanover with a sudden burst of speed approaching the wire to score by half a length.
Driven by Brian Sears for trainer Trond Smedshammer, Stroke Play, a four-year-old Yankee Glide mare, earned her third win in four tries this year and almost became a millionaire in the process. A Breeders Crown champion at three, she’s now banked $963,366 in her stellar career for owner Jorgen Jahre of Norway. She trotted the distance in 2:404.
Eaton Road Kill was a well measured winner of the Pacing Classic for the older horses. Daniel Dube piloted the six-year-old Cambest gelding to victory over Life Source and Royal Mattjesty in 2:341. Mark Harder trains for owner Gregg Pistochini of California.