by Mark McKelvie – WEG Communications

Campbellville, ON — Jimmy Takter trainees Uncle Lasse and Pinkman were victorious Saturday (Sept. 12) night in the eliminations for the Canadian Trotting Classic.

A group of 13 3-year-old trotters were split into two C$40,000 eliminations for the Canadian Trotting Classic. The top five finishers from each division advanced to next week’s C$700,000 final.

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Uncle Lasse captured an elimination of the Canadian Trotting Classic in 1:52.3 on Saturday night.

In the first elimination, Uncle Lasse prevailed in a tight win photo over Crazy Wow in 1:52.3.

Driven by Brian Sears, Uncle Lasse was able to get away in the two-hole on the back of Crazy Wow, who was sent off as the 1-2 favorite. The field of six sat lined up for the majority of the opening three-quarters, as Crazy Wow cut out fractions of :27.4, :56.2 and 1:25.2.

In the stretch, Uncle Lasse came to the outside for Sears to try and track down Crazy Wow, who turned the race into a final-quarter sprint. Uncle Lasse was able sprint home in :26.4 to get up in the final strides and defeat Crazy Wow by a head

“The trip worked out perfect,” said Sears following the race. “I was real happy with that and the horse responded off the trip.”

Muscle Up The Goal finished third, while Dont Rush and French Laundry rounded out the top five to secure a spot in the final.

Trained by Jimmy Takter, Uncle Lasse scored his fifth win of the season Saturday night. The son of Donato Hanover has hit the board in nine of 11 starts and has banked over C$860,000.

Sears noted that Uncle Lasse might be ready to break through and win a big one.

“He’s been knocking on the door all year and hopefully he has a good one next week.”

Uncle Lasse is owned by Solveigs Racing Partners and Goran Falk. Saturday was the ninth career victory.

Uncle Lasse paid $7.80 to win.

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Pinkman gave trainer Jimmy Takter a sweep of the Canadian Trotting Classic scoring in 1:52.2.

Hambletonian champion Pinkman was an easy winner in the second split to give Takter a sweep of this Canadian Trotting Classic eliminations.

Pinkman and driver Yannick Gingras trotted out to the front, but gave way at the quarter to stablemate The Bank. Gingras wasted little time retaking the lead in the second-quarter and the 4-5 favorite led the field by the half in :56.1.

After a third quarter in :28.3, Pinkman sprinted home comfortably in :27.3 to win by two-lengths in 1:52.2 over The Bank. Muscle Diamond finished third, while Centurion Atm, who had a poor start, and Iron grabbed the last two spots in the final.

A son of Explosive Matter, Pinkman’s victory Saturday was his first win since capturing the Hambletonian on August 8.

“He sure was really good tonight,” said Gingras following the race. “(I) kicked the plugs out half way down the stretch and he got into another gear and was trotting real strong through the wire.”

Pinkman came into the Canadian Trotting Classic eliminations off a pair of subpar efforts at Yonkers, but Gingras said the gelding just didn’t enjoy the half-mile surface.

“He struggled on the half and was running in hard and pretty bumpy gaited. It was pretty amazing that he stayed at it both weeks,” Gingras said. “He’s a really game horse, but the half-mile track wasn’t what he likes.”

Pinkman is owned by Christina Takter, John and Jim Fielding, Joyce McClelland and Herb Liverman. The Takter trainee now has 9 wins from 13 starts and earnings of over C$1.2 million this season.

Pinkman’s career totals sit at 15 wins and a bankroll of C$1.8 million. He paid $3.70 to win.

Both elimination winners earned the right to select their post for next week’s C$700,000 Canadian Trotting Classic final.

The Canadian Trotting Classic will be the co-feature next Saturday (September 19) along with the C$680,000 Maple Leaf Trot.

Here is how the 3-year-olds will lineup for the Canadian Trotting Classic final.

C$700,000 Canadian Trotting Classic

1. French Laundry

2. Dont Rush

3. Uncle Lasse

4. Pinkman

5. Iron

6. Muscle Up The Goal

7. Muscle Diamond

8. Crazy Wow

9. Centurion Atm

10. The Bank

AE: Jetpedia