Micallef Trainees Sweep Blizzard Elims

The appropriately named Blizzard Stakes got underway at Woodbine Racetrack on Thursday evening, and Mother Nature did her best to make sure there were blizzard-like conditions for the elimination round

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Hat Trick Honey took her $20,000 elimination for the tandem of driver Roger Mayotte and trainer Tan Micallef. Sent off at odds of 3-1 in the eight-horse affair, the homebred daughter of Million Dollar Cam-Naughty Nettie G survived a first-over trip, a challenging trip around the final and then an inquiry by the O.R.C. Judges en route to winning in a time of 1:56.1. Runner-up Shanghai Thrill, who shot through at the rail in deep stretch, came within three-quarters of a length of getting to the winner. Keystone Nobility tagged along to finish third.

Bred and owned by Stu Bolender of Elora, ON, Hat Trick Honey won for the second time in her career while pushing her lifetime earnings to $27,170.

Hustleonhome, another one of Bolender’s homebreds, front-stepped to an impressive tally in a time of 1:57 over the snow-covered oval. Trained by Tan Micallef and driven by Sylvain Filion, Hustleonhome chopped out panels of :28, :58.4 and 1:28.4 before kicking home in :28.1 to post the two-length victory over Wish Away. Third prize went to Lucky Cheryl.

Hustleonhome, a daughter of Million Dollar Cam-Double Tease, found the winner’s circle for just the second time in her career. She went 1-for-13 in her sophomore season after going unraced as a rookie. The lion’s share of Thursday’s purse boosted her cash stash to $59,590.

The top five finishers from each of the eliminations will advance to next Thursday’s final of the Blizzard Stakes. Here’s the field:

$60,000 Blizzard Stakes
1. I Love Too Much
2. Hat Trick Honey
3. Hustleonhome
4. Shanghai Thrill
5. Wish Away
6. Sign O The Rainbow
7. Windows Online
8. Lucky Cheryl
9. Paix De Chine
10. Keystone Nobility

To view Thursday's results, click here.