by Sandra Snyder, for the Ontario Sires Stakes

Campbellville, ON — Windsong Espoir will put his five-race win streak on the line this Sunday, September 30, when he steps up behind the Mohawk Racetrack starting gate with nine of his 2-year-old trotting colt peers for their second-to-last C$130,000 Gold Final.

The colt has been flawless since August 23, capturing the Bridger Final, a Champlain division, his elimination and the final of the William Wellwood Memorial, and last week’s Gold elimination for delighted owners Peter Heffering of Port Perry, Jerry Vanboekel of Bright, Bill Loyens of London and Hope Stable of Port Perry.

“I like this horse an awful lot, and I like him more every day,” says Bill Loyens, with a chuckle. “We’re pretty proud of him.”

Paulette Loyens bred Windsong Espoir, and the colt was raised at the couple’s Windsong Acres farm in London. The son of Kadabra and $149,923 winner Diamond Image seemed to possess a star quality right from birth, so the pair jumped at the opportunity to retain a partial interest in the young trotter.

“He was a wonderful baby,” recalls Paulette Loyens. “Since he was born, he was a beautiful colt.”

Turned over to trainer Brad Maxwell after last fall’s Canadian Open Yearling Sale, the colt progressed easily through his lessons and appeared at Mohawk Racetrack for the first time in a July 30 qualifier, which he won by a neck in 2:02.4. Cambridge resident Maxwell opted to qualify the precocious youngster a second time, and Windsong Espoir delivered a third-place finish, trotting his own mile in 2:01.4.

With regular reinsman Steve Condren at the lines, the colt made his racing debut in the August 16 leg of the Bridger Series, trotting home in :28 seconds to finish third. Since then Windsong Espoir has been flawless, winning each of his races by no less than four lengths and recording a Mohawk Racetrack and Canadian record 1:55.3 clocking in the elimination and final of the William Wellwood Memorial.

“Brad just loves him, of course,” says Bill Loyens. “He’s never been extended to my knowledge, so I don’t know where the bottom is.”

Loyens says the partners are taking a cautious approach with the young trotter, hoping to extend his career well beyond this season. After Sunday’s Gold Final skirmish they will decide whether to make the trip to Windsor Raceway for the last Gold Series event, skip it and wait for the Super Final, or simply wrap up the young trotter’s season.

“We will play it race by race, deciding when we quit with him,” he explains. “For sure we will race him this week, then we’ll see again after that. He’s just a 2-year-old baby.”

The veteran owner and breeder suspects that Sunday’s start may present Windsong Espoir with his biggest challenge to date, and like any good pragmatist, he is staying purposefully low key about the colt’s current win streak and future prospects.

“He’s got the seven hole in the Gold Final on Sunday,” notes Loyens. “He’s in with the best from the other division, so it will be a little tougher. Anything can happen.

“That’s why I’m not letting this colt go to my head. I’ve been there, done that,” he adds. “I’ve been in races where I thought I was tons the best, and something happens.”

As he was for the colt’s first six starts, Loyens will be trackside to see what happens as Windsong Espoir battles for the Gold Final crown on Sunday. The first race at the Campbellville oval gets underway at 7:20 p.m. and the 3-year-old trotting colts will compete for C$130,000 in race five.

Mohawk Racetrack Gold Final
Race 5 – C$130,000
Post – Horse (Sire) – Driver – Trainer
1 – Andiron Springs (Striking Sahbra) – T. Ritchie – T. Artandi
2 – B Strike Three (Striking Sahbra) – R. Zeron – R. Mackenzie
3 – O U Gus (Angus Hall) – W. O’Donnell – J. Duford
4 – Keystone Titan (Mr Lavec) – T. Ritchie – J. Kopas
5 – Nesta (Kadabra) – R. Zeron – R. Mackenzie
6 – Pizzazzed (Kadabra) – R. Hammer – R. Hammer
7 – Windsong Espoir (Kadabra) – S. Condren – B. Maxwell
8 – Shoeless White Sox (Mr Lavec) – P. MacDonell – S. Bossence
9 – Define The World (Duke Of York) – P. MacDonell – J. Bax
10 – Sergeant York (Duke Of York) – K. Oliver – L. Walker
AE1 – Northern Zephyr (Striking Sahbra) – Ma. MacDonald – M. Keeling
AE2 – Red Star Conman (Angus Hall) – Pa. Hudon – Pa. Hudon
AE3 – Strong Hall (Angus Hall) – R. Mayotte – S. Kerwood