Well-respected Swedish trainer Jonas Czernyson was married yesterday in the shadow of the historic Stable of Memories (also known as the “round barn”) at The Red Mile. He took the hand of Christine Cone, whose mother operates Millstream Farm, a boutique trotting operation north of Lexington.
Performing the ceremony was the newly-ordained Don Swick, a well-respected trotting trainer in his own right.
At the reception after the wedding, Jonas and some other trainers were already making plans to sneak away in time to watch some of the racing from Mohawk. Most wanted to see Muscle Hill take on the world once again, but Jonas said his interest was the consolation for the Canadian Trotting Classic because he had two colts, Hotshot Blue Chip and Select Yankee, in that $100,000 event.
He knew that Hotshot Blue Chip gave him his best chance of winning, but he also know that Hotshot Blue Chip has jumped it off in many big races this year. Jonas was delighted to have Steve Condren in the bike behind his horse.
“I just hope he can get Hotshot around the first turn on the trot,” he said. “Then he’ll be okay.”
Condren had Hotshot Blue Chip 11 lengths off the leaders after a quarter-mile, but then moved to follow the cover of Cesar A Blue Chip. In the homestretch, Hotshot Blue Chip trotted to the front to win by a length in 1:54. Czernyson’s other trotter, Select Yankee, finished fifth.
It was a nice wedding present from Ontario on this special day for Jonas Czernyson.