Coming into the 2011 racing season, Marc Hanover and Gordon Banks weren’t exactly sure what they had in their two-year-old pacer Machapelo, but after a victory in the Battle of Waterloo earlier this year and a recent OSS Gold Final victory, they are now well aware of their prize
Machapelo, a homebred son of Mach Three-Capelo Rose, has banked $408,843 in earnings this season with a record of 1:51.3 for Hanover and Banks’ Enviro Stables.
“He sort of came out of nowhere,” Banks said. “He trained down with Linda Toscano and he was known as the little brown horse. He was always there. He wasn’t flashy and didn’t train in the best set.”
Machapelo currently ranks second in the Gold Series standings behind Warrawee Needy with 164 points.
Monday marks the final OSS Gold event for Machapelo before the $300,000 OSS Super Final slated for November 12 at Woodbine. With no eliminations required last week, all six pacers that were entered have advanced to the final. Machapelo will begin from post one in race two for the $170,000 rich dash.
“It’s going to be a tough race with Warrawee Needy and I Found My Beach in it,” Hanover said. “Once again, it will depend on post and how the race sets up. He has showed at Grand River [Raceway] that he’s a fighter and can come back in the stretch.”
The Mike Keeling trainee boasts a record of 3-4-1 from 11 starts this season.
(WEG)
To view entries for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Entries – Woodbine Racetrack.