Uncle Peter takes freshman colt trot in 1:55
October 29, 2011,by John Siscos, WEG communications
Toronto, ON — Uncle Peter, with Dave Palone in the bike, sprang an upset in the $600,000 Breeders Crown 2-year-old Colt Trot, collaring the even money choice Possess The Will in mid-stretch, before going on to a 2-1/4 length victory in 1:55.
Jimmy Takter, his trainer and driver, though, was unable to make it to Woodbine Saturday night, having been stranded in New Jersey because of a snowstorm earlier in the day. Takter was aboard last week when Uncle Peter won his elim in 1:57.
Thus, Palone was named to drive the son of Cantab Hall-Victory Treasure, who was named after the late brother of two of the owners, John and Jim Fielding of Toronto. Palone had the favorite measured down the lane, after a pocket trip through a half in :56.4 and three-quarters in 1:25.2. Longshot Delano came on for third.
The lightly-raced Uncle Peter, a $60,000 Lexington Selected Sale yearling purchase, won his fourth outing in only six trips to the post this year.
Uncle Peter paid $11.40 to win as the 9-2 third choice, behind Possess The Will and 7-2 Magic Tonight.
It was the second Crown on the evening for Palone, who also scored with Sweet Lou in a world record 1:49 in the 2-year-old Colt Pace.
“He was a perfect horse to drive,” said Palone. “Jimmy informed me this afternoon that he wasn’t going to make it and told me I was going to love him. He’s got a good mouth and you can do anything you want with him. He thought he was going to be extra good tonight. Kudos to him, he had him on his toes.
“It is kind of difficult,” added Palone on picking up a drive when he has never driven the horse before. “I’ve picked up four or five others and everybody is giving me cues about their horses, and this and that, and I’m kind of getting them run together. It’s tough when you don’t have a second to get back and gather your thoughts, like now when they’re calling me for the post parade.”