Jerry Legault has made it his business to ensure his clients find gold and now he’s found some of his own in
trotter Andover America.
“I was really on edge until late in the stretch tonight wondering if he was going to get there, and [driver] Bruce Ranger used him at just the right time,” an elated Legault said in a live post-race trackside TV interview after Andover America bested Gale Warning with Tom Sells and the tempo-setting McCoy, driven by Wally Hennessey. The five-year-old Andover Hall-Armbro Array gelding scored in 1:56.2 in the October 20 featured $12,000 purse trot at the Isle Casino-Racing Pompano Park.
Legault hails from Amos, Que. and his ownership of Andover America is under the stable name of McTrade Enterprises registered to Davie, Florida, about a 20 minute drive south of the track.
“I’m able to run my mining business back in Canada from here and I really love owning a few horses too,” Legault explained. “Among our clients in Rouyn and Noranda, Que. are two of North America’s biggest gold mining companies in Goldcorp and Eldorado Gold. We supply them with as much as our mining services company can for what they need to find the most gold possible. It’s been a great time recently in the business with the surge in gold’s commodity price,” he added.
The mid-week win at Pompano for Andover America marked just the second time that Legault has seen his horse win in person. He says he’s beaten a superstition held by some owners that believe their horses are jinxed if they are trackside.
“He had a great Summer at Tioga Downs but I didn’t see any of his races up there,” Legault explained. “All the credit goes to Bruce Ranger and Stewart Nemiro. This horse was meant to be a good one and Bruce’s stable has got him past his lameness and other issues. I’ll be coming as often as possible to watch him from now on and bringing as many family members as I can gather up with me too.”
In the coming weekend post time is at 7:05 EST at the Isle Casino-Racing Pompano Park on Friday and Saturday evenings. Both weekend programs feature fourth leg action in the Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association (FSBOA) Sunshine State Stakes leading up to the December 11th ‘Super Night’ 2010. There’s a pick-4 carryover of $829 into the fifth race on Friday night.
(Pompano Park)