After coming up just a head short in the January 3 edition of the Preferred Trot at Woodbine Mohawk Park, Spartan General returned Monday evening to take on – and beat – the best trotters the nation has to offer.
Spartan General got away sixth in the group of seven while Pikachu Hanover blasted to the lead and carved out panels of :27.3, :57.3 and 1:26.4 in his quest to triple up in the class. Race favourite Perfetto popped out first-over on the way to the half, but after struggling to go forward he left the door wide-open for someone to pull off the upset.
That someone was driver Chris Christoforou, who rallied Spartan General from sixth at the three-quarter pole and the pair stormed home in :27 to win by 1-1/2 lengths over Pikachu Hanover in 1:55.1. Only For Justice came on strong to nab the show dough in the $34,000 affair.
Camilla Christoforou trains the five-year-old son of Muscle Hill-Severence for Charalambos Christoforou and Irvann Holdings Inc. The victory was his first of the season, but the 10th of his career. The $17,000 payday bumped his career bankroll to $148,030.
Monday’s card also featured the second leg of the Pop Up Series for claiming pacers, and the horses and geldings sparred in four divisions.
Elroy Shiner clicked off the claim for trainer Richard Moreau in the first division, thanks in large part to the two-hole trip mapped out by reinsman Sylvain Filion.
The gelding tracked Larjon Lucky through fractions of :28, :58.2 and 1:29.1 before splitting horses in the lane and kicking home in :29.2 to win by a half-length margin over Rough Trade in 1:59. Dashiki took home the show dough.
Doug Dunbar and partner Frederick Woolford celebrated the win with their recent acquisition, who was claimed from the winning effort. It was his first triumph of the season and the sixth of his career. He’s banked over $40,000 to date.
Royale Big Guy also used his rallying skills to take home top prize in the second division for the tandem of driver Trevor Henry and trainer Gerard Demers.
The eight-year-old son of Ashlees Big Guy-Caribe Royale got away fifth and watched On Cruise Control slice out first-half fractions of :27.4 and :57.3 before giving way to Notetoself Hanover. The new leader had the field chasing him past the three-quarter pole in 1:27.4, but he couldn’t quite seal the deal. Royale Big Guy latched on to cover going to the half, and he swung off that cover turning for home. He kicked out final quarter speed of :28.4 to win by 1-3/4 lengths over Notetoself Hanover in 1:57.1. Barrys Shelby was third.
Sent off at odds of 4-1, Royale Big Guy won for the first time this season and for the 15th time in his career. He was owned by La Ferme Tag Inc. and Les Ecuries GLD Inc. before being claimed from the winning effort. His earnings climbed over $160,000 with the win.
Sunny Bo was a popular winner in the third division, but unlike the winners of the first two divisions he took a front-stepping approach to taking care of business.
He got away second for driver Sylvain Filion, who watched Take The Deal sprint to the quarter pole in :28.3 before engaging that foe in backstretch battle. Sunny Bo worked his way to the top and then wheeled the field through middle panels of :57.2 and 1:26.4. His :28.4 closing quarter earned him the win by five lengths over Take The Deal in 1:55.3. Third prize went to Mission Three.
Owned and trained by Stephane Larocque of Carlisle, Ont., the six-year-old son of Sunshine Beach-O See My Bo won for the first time this season and for the sixth time in his career. The career winner of $83,100 had 13 claims entered on him in the winning effort.
Oakrock Eldorado took the final division, and he made multiple moves in the mile to do it for the duo of driver Louis-Philippe Roy and trainer Brett Lester.
The free-legged veteran left hard and dropped in third while Durham Town and Santanna Tony battled to the opening quarter in :28.1. Oakrock Eldorado popped out in the backstretch and blasted to the lead, but he quickly came under attack from Rockinmydream. That foe swept to the lead at the half in :59.2 and he continued to lead the group to the three-quarter pole in 1:29.1. Oakrock Eldorado swung back to the outside in the lane and used his :29.2 closing speed to win by a length over Mach Lee in 1:59.1. Old Buck was third.
Michele Letarte and Jean Allaire share ownership on the 12-year-old son of Rambaran-Best Undercover who nabbed his first win of the season from four attempts. The 36-time winner has banked close to $200,000 to date.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park.