by Ashley Mayotte, WEG communications
Campbellville, ON — This year’s Pepsi North America Cup winner, Up The Credit, delivered in his division of the Simcoe Stakes for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers on Saturday night (September 10) at Mohawk Racetrack.
Up The Credit scored in a time of 1:49.1 in his Simcoe Stakes division.
Roll On (Randy Waples) took the glamour boys to the quarter pole in :26. As they entered the backstretch, driver Jody Jamieson came first-up from third with Up The Credit to take the lead, cutting the half in :54.3. The duo held the lead, hitting the three-quarters in 1:21.4.
Sent off as the 1-2 favorite, the Carl Jamieson trainee opened up a six length lead as he crossed the wire, stopping the clock in 1:49.1. Bullet Speed (Brian Sears) finished second and Mystician (Rick Zeron) was third.
After making a costly break in the C$532,500 Confederation Cup at Flamboro Downs on August 14, Jamieson admitted he is not worried about that error as Up The Credit will start in the Little Brown Jug.
“Racing him on a half-mile track is not an issue, he ran up the backside,” Jamieson said. “He ran going straight, not on a turn. Right now, his attitude is great and he’s healthy. We’re just keeping our fingers crossed for the Jug.”
Jamieson gives much credit to his father, Carl, who conditions the colt.
“My dad and I have had some good horses and had good horses together,” he said. “I don’t think he’s had a horse that went over a million dollars in a single season until now, so it’s a big thrill and hopefully we can keep it going.”
The son of Western Terror-Cantbuymehappiness is one of harness racing’s newest millionaires, boating C$1,051,212 in lifetime earnings for Carl Jamieson, Thomas Kyron, Brian Paquet and Joanne Morrison.
The win was Up The Credit’s seventh of the season in 13 starts and ninth lifetime. The brown colt paid $3.10 to win.
In the first C$115,643 division, the Ben Baillargeon-trained Odysseus Bluechip equaled his lifetime best mark of 1:51.3.
Line Officer (Scott Zeron) cut the opening panel in :27.2 before driver Mario Baillargeon and Odysseus Bluechip launched a first-over attack from third to take command before the half in :56.2.
As the sophomore pacers entered the final turn, Machal Jackson came first-up and attempted to take the lead, but could not pass the 7-5 favorite as they hit the three-quarter pole in 1:24.1. Odysseus Bluechip dug in to score the victory by a neck over a hard closing American Arena (Ron Pierce). Westwardho Hanover (David Miller) got up for third.
“I really didn’t want to race in front,” Mario admitted. “Scott (Zeron with Line Officer) got in front and he tapped the breaks on. I was in the three hole so I thought I’d come back and control the race. He raced pretty good.
“He is better on a helmet. He is a notch below the top ones, but he is going to be a nice horse down the road.”
The win was Odysseus Bluechip’s fourth of the season in 11 starts and fifth lifetime, which pushes his career earnings to C$143,471. The gelded son of Cam’s Card Shark-Chutney Hanover is owned by Richard Berthiaume. The bay paid $4.90 to win.
Big Mcdeal lowers Champlain Stakes record
Two Champlain divisions for 2-year-old colt pacers and a lone division for 2-year-old filly pacers were also contested Saturday evening at Mohawk Racetrack, with the fillies putting up a big mile to set a new stakes record.
New Image Media photo
Big Mcdeal won in a stakes record time of 1:51.2.
In the single C$239,801 division, Big Mcdeal pulled off a 29-1 upset while lowering the stakes record with a 1:51.2 performance. Owned and trained by Jack Darling, the freshman filly also notched her first lifetime win.
With Paul MacDonell in the sulky, the bay won in gate-to-wire fashion, cutting the mile through splits of :26.1, :55.2 and 1:23.1. Beaten by a half-length, Shelliscape (Randy Waples) got up for second and the 2-5 favorite Pirouette Hanover (Ron Pierce) was third.
The daughter of Mcardle-Ideal Gal has one win, two seconds and two third-place finishes in seven lifetime starts, boasting C$222,238 in career earnings. Big Mcdeal paid $61.80 to win as the upsetter.
In the first C$150,506 division for the colt pacers, Machapelo beat out nine other rivals, from the trailing position post 11, to capture the lion’s share of the purse for trainer Michael Keeling.
Allstar Legend (Andy Miller) held the lead through splits of :26.2, :55 and 1:23.1. But driver Jody Jamieson utilized a second-over trip to find the winner’s circle, stopping the teletimer in a new mark of 1:51.3. In Commando (Randy Waples) finished second by a neck with Rockin Finish (Chris Christoforou) rounding out the triactor.
The son of Mach Three-Capelo Rose has two wins, four seconds and one third-place finish in 10 lifetime starts, boasting C$323,843 in career earnings for Enviro Stables Ltd. Machapelo paid $7.30 to win as the second choice.
Speed Again captured the second C$148,506 division for trainer Jeff Gillis and driver Jody Jamieson.
Jamieson used first-over tactics as Hurrikane Kingcole (Luc Ouellette) laid down fractions of :26.2 and :54.4 before Speed Again took over command at three-quarters in 1:23.2.
The pair never looked back, scoring a 1-3/4 length victory in 1:50.3. I Found My Beach (Randy Waples) exploded from the backfield to finish second with Gable Blue Chip (Ron Pierce) third.
The son of Dragon Again-Sand Speed has five wins, two seconds and one third-place finish in eight lifetime starts with C$306,449 in career earnings for Gillis who also owns a share of the gelding with Gerald Stay, Mac Nichol and Ken Henwood. Speed Again paid $3.70 to win.