As the two-year-old trotting colts head into the last Gold Elimination of the season this Friday at Woodbine Racetrack, trainer Michael Guitard is hoping Grumpy Jake is feeling a little less irritable than he was in his last two outings
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"It’s that time of year I guess," says the Campbellville, Ont. resident, who trains Grumpy Jake for Haryott Stables of Etobicoke. "The time of year a lot of them do this — get a little tired and frustrated."
Grumpy Jake kicked off his freshman campaign with a fourth in eliminations for the Gold Series season opener at Mohawk Racetrack on July 16. The Striking Sahbra son made a miscue in a leg of the Bridger Series at Mohawk on August 6, and then delivered his first lifetime victory at the Campbellville oval in an August 23 Gold elimination.
A hard closing third in the August 30 Gold Final, Grumpy Jake delivered another impressive third in a division of the Champlain Stakes at Mohawk on September 6, sprinting home in :27.4 in a 1:55.4 effort. Fourth in his Wellwood Memorial Elimination on September 13, Grumpy Jake logged his second victory in the Wellwood Consolation, getting a nose in front of Break The Bank K in 1:56.3.
Off that effort, Rideau Carleton Raceway fans sent the colt off as their top choice in a September 27 Gold Elimination, and Grumpy Jake carved most of the fractions on a sloppy track before being caught at the wire by a nose. It was in the October 4 Gold Final at Rideau Carleton that the colt displayed the grumpy side of his temperament, making an early break and finishing eighth, and the young trotter made a second break in his October 16 Breeders Crown Elimination at Woodbine.
"With young horses, making breaks like that can get into a habit," notes Guitard. "It’s easier not to race.
"We gave him a week off, hopefully he’ll be better this week," adds the horseman.
Guitard also tinkered with the colt’s equipment in the weeks after the Breeders Crown Elimination, and gave the new rigging a trial run in qualifying action at Mohawk on October 26. Starting from Post 1 for regular reinsman Jack Moiseyev, Grumpy Jake laid down a steady 1:59.4 effort, trotting home in :27.4.
"He came home good yesterday. He came home in :27.4. That’s not too shabby for a two-year-old trotter," says Guitard. "Hopefully he’s done making those breaks."
Grumpy Jake and Moiseyev will be aiming for a return to form from Post 3 in the second $40,000 Gold Elimination. With only six colts in each field, the pair only have to cross under the wire ahead of one other contender to earn a berth in the November 6 Gold Final. Among the colts they face is former Gold Final winner Ja El Express, who will be looking for his own return to form from Post 6.
With 95 points earned through his first three Gold Series appearances, Grumpy Jake has virtually secured a berth in the season ending Super Final. Guitard would love to see the youngster close out his freshman campaign on a high note, but regardless of the results Grumpy Jake posts over the next three weeks, the trainer is confident the colt will be a contender at the provincial level again next season.
"He is a nice colt, there’s no doubt about that," says the trainer. "He has lots of speed, lots of talent."
Grumpy Jake and his peers will open Woodbine Racetrack’s Friday evening program at 7:30 p.m., competing for $40,000 and a top five finish in Races 1 and 2.
To view Friday's harness racing entries, click here.
(OSS)