Trainer Dr. Ian Moore said to throw out State Treasurer’s last start and call it an aberration caused by an unlucky trip.
“He was three-wide the whole mile,” Moore said of the eighth-place finish on August 8 in the $258,000 Dan Patch Invitational at Hoosier Park in Indiana.
Moore expects the five-year-old son of Real Desire—Ideal Treasure to be in top form Saturday, when State Treasurer goes to the gate at Mohawk Racetrack in the second of two $40,000 eliminations for the 72nd edition of the Canadian Pacing Derby.
Moore trained State Treasurer Thursday morning at the Shamrock Training Centre in Puslinch, Ont. and afterward declared the winner of seven races in 12 starts this year to be in good shape.
State Treasurer’s not-so-secret weapon is being reunited with Canada’s leading money driver, Chris Christoforou, who also sits atop the Woodbine Entertainment Group driver standings in wins with 142 on the year.
“Chris and State Treasurer seem to have a little chemistry,” Moore said. “This is the type of horse that a lot of guys could drive, but he also has a few quirks that once you get to know him you’ll know what his capabilities are. Chris has really been a nice fit for him. He’s got him nice and relaxed before the race and the whole thing.”
Christoforou has been in the bike for all seven of State Treasurer’s victories this year, including a triumph in May in the $138,000 Molson Pace at The Raceway at The Western Fair District in London, Ont., and six sub-1:50 victories in Mohawk’s Preferred class, including a career-best 1:48.1 mile on June 28.
“I think one thing in our favour is Mohawk is 20 minutes down the road and it’s a track that he’s excelled on the last three years. I think that will work in his favour,” Moore said. As will starting from the three-hole, with top U.S. invader Sweet Lou in the other Pacing Derby elimination.
State Treasurer has earned nearly $300,000 this year and has finished first or second nine times in 12 outings. Lifetime, State Treasurer has surpassed $750,000 in earnings for owners Sally MacDonald of Soris, P.E.I. and her husband Alan’s cousin, Paul MacDonald of Regina, Saskatchewan.
Moore is a Prince Edward Island native that has been friends with Alan MacDonald for many years.
“[Alan] used to go to Harrisburg every fall and buy a yearling and he always used to get me to look at them for him after he already picked a couple,” Moore said. “The year they bought Treasurer, his cousin Paul MacDonald was there and I think they wanted to spend a little bit more. Alan would usually spend $3,000. He’d wait until the last day. They ended up with 'Treasurer' for $6,500.”
Moore said both sets of MacDonalds are expected to be at Mohawk on Saturday to see State Treasurer try to qualify for the Canadian Pacing Derby final, set for August 30.
“They’ve had multiple offers to sell him, as you can well imagine, and they’ve turned them all down. It’s been big money, too. He’s fulfilled a lot of dreams for them,” Moore said of the owners.
A win in the Canadian Pacing Derby would fulfill a dream or two for Moore and Christoforou, as well. Neither man has won Canada’s oldest harness race.
“It would be quite a thrill, for sure, for all of us,” Moore said.
To view Saturday's harness racing entries, click on the following link: Saturday Entries - Mohawk Racetrack.
(WEG)