Qualifying was just as good the second time around for five of Monday’s 2-year-olds in action at Gaitway Farm as Blue Pacific, Sweet Gal, Rochester Flash, Swifty Lazar and T C I repeated as winners in their second tries around the training center’s one-mile oval.
Tag: Ken Weingartner
Tetrick, McCarthy eye more Cup glory
Tim Tetrick will head to Saturday’s C$1 million Pepsi North America Cup for 3-year-old pacers at Woodbine Mohawk Park with morning-line favorite Confederate, and a win would make him only the third driver to capture the race at least three times as well as increase his total number of victories in million-dollar races to nine. Of course, nine foes stand in the way of Confederate and Tetrick. Among them is Christchurch and Todd McCarthy, who with a triumph would become the first driver to win the Cup in his first two appearances in the race while also becoming only the third driver ever to hoist the trophy in consecutive years.
Morgan sends Grace Hill and Refined into Mohawk stakes
Virgil Morgan Jr. has nothing but good things to say about female pacer Grace Hill and female trotter Refined heading into Saturday’s stakes action at Woodbine Mohawk Park, and it is easy to understand why.
King hopes surf’s up in NA Cup
The King Stable knows the thrill of winning the Pepsi North America Cup, having captured the 2015 edition of the million-dollar race for 3-year-old pacers with Wakizashi Hanover in an upset over Wiggle It Jiggleit. On Saturday, the stable will return to Woodbine Mohawk Park for a North America Cup final for the first time since that memorable day, hoping to spring another surprise with Lyons Surfing.
Big morning for trainer Noel Daley at Magical Acres
Noel Daley had two winners in Wednesday’s qualifiers for 2-year-olds at Magical Acres training center, then watched returning Dan Patch Award-winning trotter Volume Eight make his first appearance of the season as qualifiers for horses 3 and older were held over the five-eighths-mile track.
Connections looking forward to 2023 season with Instagram Model
Instagram Model was a winner on Hambletonian Day in 2022, capturing the Jim Doherty Memorial for 2-year-old female trotters at The Meadowlands, and her connections hope she can find success on the first Saturday in August again this season. Instagram Model takes her next step on the road to the Oaks on Friday (June 16) when she faces six rivals in the second of two $104,371 divisions of the Empire Breeders Classic for 3-year-old female trotters at Vernon Downs.
Another six winners for Ron Burke in 2-year-old races at Gaitway Farm
None of Ron Burke’s six winners from last week’s opening round of qualifiers for 2-year-olds at Gaitway Farm were in action again this week but that didn’t prevent the trainer from having six more winners Monday (June 12) at the central New Jersey training center. Burke’s winners were male pacers Dancin Champion and Dream Bird, male trotters Craigieburn and Classic Landing, female pacer Monsoon, and female trotter Cahira Hanover. Dancin Champion, Craigieburn, and Monsoon were making their debuts.
Racing Reflections with Aaron Merriman
It is somewhat appropriate that Father’s Day is Sunday because whenever Aaron Merriman speaks of the person most influential in his career, he is talking about his father, Lanny. Merriman followed his father into harness racing, and did it step by step. For a while, Aaron was uncertain racing would be his career — he attended college briefly — but the allure of the horses proved too much. He got his first win in 1998, 10 days prior to his 20th birthday, and has added to that total at a record pace ever since.
Owners enjoy genuine fun with Bamboozler
After a lengthy absence from racehorse ownership, Carter Quillen decided two years ago, on his 80th birthday, it was time to get back in the game. The resulting purchase was a yearling named The Best Way — now known as Bamboozler — and it’s safe to say the outcome has exceeded any wish Carter might have made blowing out his candles. Bamboozler competes Saturday in the first of four C$50,000 eliminations of the Pepsi North America Cup for 3-year-old pacers at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Test time for Bax duo in Goodtimes
Matt Bax will send out Hambletonian-eligible trotters Southwind Coors and Snowpiercer in Friday’s eliminations of the Goodtimes Stakes for 3-year-olds at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Their performances in the event could determine whether they are part of the Hambo conversation in the weeks that follow.