First-time starter Stealth Bomber, a full brother to owner Frank Bellino's double millionaire pacer Rock N Roll Heaven, was an impressive winner on Thursday night (February 16) at Woodbine Racetrack.
Driven by Doug McNair in a $14,000 maiden race, three-year-old pacing colt Stealth Bomber left out from post eight to secure a spot in fifth through opening panels of :27 and :56.3 before advancing first-up on four-year-old Chummy Park (Louis Philippe Roy), who continued to lead past three-quarters in 1:25. Stealth Bomber reeled in Chummy Park down the stretch and paced away to win by more than three lengths in 1:53 flat, a Canadian season's record for three-year-olds.
Bellino purchased the Rocknroll Hanover-Artistic Vision colt as a yearling for $125,000 from the Lexington Select Sale.
Stealth Bomber wasn't able to fly under the radar in his debut as the public made him the 3-5 wagering favourite. The Tony O'Sullivan trainee paid $3.20 to win his career debut following a pair of qualifying miles.
Prior to the pari-mutuel program, $650,000-earner Major Athens won his first qualifier in Canada off a pocket trip, trotting away by 11 lengths in a :28 final quarter to stop the clock in 1:57.2. Jody Jamieson drove the seven-year-old son of Andover Hall-Miss Athens, who turned in his first charted mile from the Jeff Gillis stable after racing last year in the Open at Yonkers Raceway. Last year's Old Oaken Bucket winner Blenheim finished second in the qualifier for trainer/driver Per Henriksen.
In other qualifying action, Prescotts Hope, a regular competitor in the Preferred and top classes at Woodbine, was an eight-length winner in 1:55.3 for driver Phil Hudon and trainer Mike Brealey.
To view Thursday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Thursday Results - Woodbine Racetrack.