“I’m not going to lie; I’ve never had two guys excite me like Ron Burke and Matt Kakaley.”

Mike Sinclair’s wife, Rosemary, need not be alarmed by her husband’s comment. The excitement is a long time coming, starting in Pennsylvania two years earlier.

On the third day of the Harrisburg sale in 2012, Mike Sinclair walked into Stonegate Farm’s consignment to take a look at a specific colt. His companion’s first impression was not positive, to say the least. Sinclair, on the other hand, had a very different opinion.

“He was perfectly put together, showed real nice but small. No one was bidding on the colt so I made one bid of $7,000 and I came home with him.”

Two years later, that $7,000 bargain -- All Bets Off has amassed just shy of $400,000 and will be looking to take the lion’s share of the purse in Saturday night’s Hempt final at Pocono. With six starts in his three-year-old season, All Bets Off has only failed to reach the winner’s circle once, finishing second. Matt Kakaley has built a successful alliance with the son of Bettors Delight, driving him regularly for trainer Ron Burke.

Learning the ropes of racing under Sinclair’s watchful eye, the colt trained down in preparation for his two-year-old season. After finishing a half-length behind Hes Watching in a track record mile at Batavia Downs, the phone started to ring with numerous offers of purchase. None were willing to offer what Sinclair wanted, until Ron Burke came along.

Burke made an offer Sinclair couldn’t refuse: he matched Sinclair’s price and a ten percent share in ownership. And the rest, as they say, is history.

“At Tioga, a guy who works for Ronny came up to me and wanted to know the length of his hopples and all the equipment he wears from head to toe. I didn’t think it mattered, because I figured Ronny would change it all. Turns out he wanted to rig the colt up the exact same way.”

The nicest horse he has ever sat behind, Sinclair’s enthusiasm about this colt is contagious.

“I watch every race. Everyone who follows me on Twitter knows because I’ll be acting like an idiot because I’m having a great time.”

Running a small stable of his own, Sinclair believes the way the colt’s personality and the he was trained as a youngster contributed to his racing versatility.

“He was always a push-button colt training down. If you wanted to leave, you could leave, if you wanted to go a 27 quarter and back down to 35, he could do it all.”

The overwhelming favourite in last week’s elimination, Kakaley brought All Bets Off home first with horse to spare in 1:48.3. Sinclair believes the colt is capable of pacing in 1:47 this year; only time will tell if his prediction will ring true. Drawing the eight hole in the final, the contender will have his work cut out for him.

“He doesn’t need to leave, he just happens to have leaving speed. When I brought him to the races, I told the drivers not to leave with him until I told them to. It’s easy to teach a horse to leave and much harder to teach a horse to finish. He learned how to race from behind, so if he has to, he’ll be fine.”

“I’ve had faith in that horse since day one. I honestly believe he can overcome the eight hole. He’s phenomenal on half mile tracks but he’s got big track speed too. I love the way Matt (Kakaley) drives him. He’s a good choice for the colt.”

The turmoil of recent years in Ontario’s racing industry sent Sinclair over the border, his focus switching to New York-sired horses. Without his wife’s understanding, they would not be enjoying the success today of All Bets Off.

“Rosemary is the strongest, toughest, greatest woman I have ever met. She’s an angel. She let me go to New York to continue to pursue the racing dream.”

And what a dream it has been with this colt.

“He’s an intelligent horse, but people judge him at first because he’s small. Don’t look at his size, because his heart is all there. He is all in and has been since the day I put the harness on him.”

“He doesn’t owe me anything but has given me so much just by being along for the ride. Everything about him puts a smile on my face. I got everything I could have ever wanted.”

Race 10, $500,000 Hempt Memorial
1. Cammikey, Brian Zendt, Bill Zendt, 6-1
2. Allstar Partner, Corey Callahan, John Butenschoen, 12-1
3. McWicked, David Miller, Casie Coleman, 5-2
4. Sometimes Said, John Campbell, Jim Campbell, 4-1
5. At Press Time, Yannick Gingras, Ron Burke, 5-1
6. Stevensville, Tim Tetrick, Ray Schnittker, 20-1
7. Bushwacker, Ron Pierce, Chris Ryder, 15-1
8. All Bets Off, Matt Kakaley, Ron Burke, 3-1
9. Limelight Beach, Brian Sears, Brian Brown, 10-1

(A Trot Insider Exclusive by Hannah Beckett)