by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Ken Weingartner

Freehold, NJ — When Chuck Sylvester was asked whether he wanted Lucky Chucky to receive a bye into Saturday’s C$1 million Canadian Trotting Classic at Mohawk Racetrack, he did not hesitate to accept, even though it meant a three-week layoff for his colt.

“For the last 10 or 12 years up there (in Canada) my horses always race good the first week and for some reason don’t perform as good the second week,” Sylvester said. “I said absolutely I’ll take it. I’m tickled to death we only have to race once.”

Last year, Lucky Chucky won his Breeders Crown elimination race at Toronto’s Woodbine Racetrack and finished second to Pilgrims Taj in the final. That result qualifies as a roaring success north of the border for Sylvester.

Fred Brown photo

Lucky Chucky’s last start was a 1:53.3 win in a Zweig Memorial division.

Since the start of 1991, horses listed under Sylvester’s name have made 70 Canadian starts, winning 16 times. Half those wins came in stakes elimination races, but failed to result in finals glory. During that span Bold Dreamer, Briggie Hanover, Day For Night, Graceful Touch, King Pine, Lindy’s New Lady, Lissome Hanover, and Muscles Yankee each won an elim and missed the board the following week. In five of those instances, the horse failed to collect a check.

In addition, four times Sylvester’s horses were second in stakes elims and did not hit the board in the final.

“I’ve made changes and no matter what I do, it doesn’t matter,” Sylvester said. “I’ve never figured out why.”

Lucky Chucky enters the Canadian Trotting Classic off a 1:53.3 win in a Zweig Memorial division on August 29 at Tioga Downs. A week earlier, he won the $500,000 Colonial at Harrah’s Chester.

“It’s a three-week layoff, but I think he’ll be fine,” Sylvester said. “He’s trained up good; he’s tight. I don’t think he needs to race every week.”

Lucky Chucky, who got his Canadian Trotting Classic bye based on earnings, has won three of six starts this year and earned $766,454. He will start the final from post No. 1, with regular driver John Campbell at the lines. The race will mark the first time Lucky Chucky will face Muscle Massive since Muscle Massive defeated Lucky Chucky by a half-length in the $1.5 million Hambletonian final on August 7.

“I think my horse has raced very well since then,” Sylvester said. “He seems to be stronger than he was then. I think he’s ready to go a good race. I don’t know where he’s going to get away; John can leave where he wants to. One thing about him, he’ll be close to the front. I think we’ll be fine.”

Hambo winners enjoy CTC: The last three Canadian Trotting Classics have been won by Hambletonian winners. Muscle Massive will try to extend the streak in Saturday’s C$1 million event at Mohawk.

Muscle Massive, who received a bye based on earnings into the CTC final, has won five of nine races and $1.03 million this year. He has raced once since winning the $1.5 million Hambletonian on August 7 at the Meadowlands, finishing first in a Simcoe Stakes division at Mohawk on September 4.

New Image Media photo

Muscle Massive will be looking for back-to-back wins at Mohawk after winning his Simcoe division there on Sept. 4.

“I was very happy with how he was,” trainer Jimmy Takter said. “He came out of the race great and I trained him a good mile on Saturday (September 11). I was very happy with the way he felt. I think he’s ready to go.”

The last three Hambletonian winners — Muscle Hill, Deweycheatumnhowe, and Donato Hanover — as well as 2004 champ Windsong’s Legacy — all won the Canadian Trotting Classic. In 2006, Hambletonian winner Glidemaster was second to Majestic Son, who did not compete in the Hambletonian. In 2005, Hambletonian runner-up Classic Photo won the CTC in the absence of Hambletonian winner Vivid Photo.

Muscle Massive drew post No. 5, one spot outside of CTC elimination race winner Break The Bank K, and will have regular driver Ron Pierce in the sulky. The connections of Break The Bank K, who won last weekend’s elim by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:55 over a sloppy track, got to select their starting spot.

“I didn’t want to take a bye, but by the same token, you almost have to,” Takter said. “When I saw the bad weather (last) Saturday, I was glad I did. It was just a miserable night. He drew the five hole, so things have worked out so far so good.”

Following is the field in post position order for Saturday’s C$1 million Canadian Trotting Classic at Mohawk with listed drivers and trainers: 1. Lucky Chucky, John Campbell, Chuck Sylvester; 2. Temple Of Doom, David Miller, Jonas Czernyson; 3. Coco Lindy, Tim Tetrick, Frank Antonacci; 4. Break The Bank K, Brian Sears, Trond Smedshammer; 5. Muscle Massive, Ron Pierce, Jimmy Takter; 6. Hard Livin, Yannick Gingras, Jimmy Takter; 7. Text Me, Randy Waples, Robert McIntosh; 8. Pilgrims Taj, Mike Lachance, Trond Smedshammer; 9. Take My Picture, Andy Miller, Nikolas Drennan; 10. He’s A Demon, Jody Jamieson, Jeff Gillis.